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EPA/AR RIN: 2060-AH61 Publication ID: Fall 1997 
Title: ●Minor Amendments to Inspection Maintenance Program Requirements; Amendments to the Final Rule 
Abstract: This rulemaking action is required by a court-ordered settlement agreement to resolve an ongoing controversy between EPA and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania concerning proper evaluation techniques for enhanced inspection maintenance programs. The agreement stipulates that the rulemaking action shall: 1) amend the I/M program evaluation requirements to remove the current requirement to conduct mass based transient emission testing (METT) on 0.1% of the subject fleet, 2) create a new evaluation requirement that would require states to conduct program evaluation testing on a minimum of 0.1% of subject vehicles using scientifically sound evaluation methodology capable of providing accurate information about the overall program effectiveness of an I/M program, 3) delete the condition on PA's interim I/M approval that requires submission of METT regulations by February 27, 1998, and 4) impose a new condition on PA's interim I/M approval that will require PA to submit program evaluation regulations requiring an approved alternative scientifically sound evaluation methodology as required by the amendment. 
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 40 CFR 51   
Legal Authority: 42 USC 7401 et seq   
Legal Deadline:
Action Source Description Date
NPRM  Judicial  Per settlement with Pennsylvania  08/30/1997 
Final  Judicial  Per settlement with Pennsylvania Per settlement with Pennsylvania  12/15/1997 
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  10/00/1997    
Final  12/00/1997    
Additional Information: SAN No. 4034. ^PLevels of government affected: The action simply removes a data collection and evaluation requirement, thereby reducing a programmatic burden on the states. In states which are not using METT as their I/M program test type, the action precludes the state from having to invest in METT equipment for program evaluation purposes. ^PAs a result of the rulemaking action it will be necessary to amend the interim approval notices of a number of individual National Highway Act states, in addition to Pennsylvania's. The METT requirement was raised as a condition in certain notices and must be changed to reflect the new requirements per the amendment described in the abstract. In order to streamline Agency efforts, rather than have each individual region do a separate notice for each applicable state, this rulemaking will amend those notices in toto and will include court-ordered changes to the deadlines by which these new requirements must be met. ^PRFA: N
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
Agency Contact:
Tracey Bradish
Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Radiation
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Phone:313 668-4239
Email: bradish.tracey@epamail.epa.gov