United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-00-024
Environmental Protection August 2000
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
Regulatory
Announcement
Proposed Amendments to
Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a proposal
to incorporate the use of Onboard Diagnostic (OBD) technology into
motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs. EPA is
proposing to amend the current I/M rule and OBD testing requirements
to provide states with greater flexibility so they can maximize the cost
effectiveness and efficiency of their I/M programs, while still achieving
the air quality goals of the program.
Proposed Rule
EPA is proposing to further amend the I/M rule and OBD testing require-
ments to provide states with the greater flexibility they need to better
meet local needs, to update requirements based on technological changes
and to help states maximize the cost effectiveness of their I/M programs
by allowing them to eliminate functionally redundant testing require-
ments. The proposed amendments would allow OBD system checks to
replace traditional I/M tests on model year 1996 and newer vehicles.
EPA based these proposed amendments on: the results of three OBD-I/M
pilot studies, EPA's discussions with states regarding their preparedness
for OBD-I/M testing, and recommendations made by the OBD
Workgroup of the Mobile Source Technical Review Committee of the
Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee.
> Printed on Recycled Paper
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Key
Elements
of the
Proposal
The proposed amendments would also postpone the mandatory start for
conducting OBD system checks from January 1, 2001 to January 1,
2002. The proposed delay would provide states the time necessary to
better educate the public and the testing and repair industries about OBD
emission control technology, and to help achieve effective implementa-
tion of I/M programs.
« Extends the current deadline for mandatory implementation of the
OBD-I/M inspection from January 1, 2001, to January 1, 2002,
while requesting comment on a possible longer delay.
* To avoid testing a vehicle twice, clarifies that I/M programs may
use periodic checks of the OBD system on model year 1996 and
newer OBD-equipped vehicles in lieu of (as opposed to in addition
to) existing exhaust and evaporative system purge and fillneck
pressure tests on those same vehicles.
« Establishes the modeling methodology to be used by states in their
State Implementation Plans (SIPs) to account for the replacement of
traditional I/M tests by OBD-I/M testing and repair, prior to release
of MOBILE6 and subsequent iterations of EPA's mobile source
emission factor model.
« Simplifies the OBD-I/M failure criteria to include any trouble code
that causes the "Check Engine" light to go on.
Background
Under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAA) states required to
implement vehicle I/M programs are also required to incorporate a check
of the OBD computer as part of those I/M programs. On November 5,
1992, EPA published the I/M rule but did not address OBD requirements
because certification regulations for OBD had not been finalized. The
1992 rule has been amended twice to address OBD requirements in 1996
and again in 1998. Since these amendments, EPA has learned much
about the effective implementation of OBD in I/M programs as a result
of pilot testing conducted by EPA and the states. These proposed amend-
ments reflect EPA's findings and will streamline requirements and
remove regulatory obstacles to help achieve effective implementation of
the OBD-I/M testing required of all I/M programs under the 1990 CAA.
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Public
We welcome your comments on this proposed rule. For instructions on
submitting written comments, see the Federal Register notice. You may
submit written comments to EPA up to 30 days after the proposed rule is
published in the Federal Register. It is available from the EPA Air
Docket by calling 202-260-7548; refer to Docket No. A-2000-16. You
can access the proposal and related documents electronically on the
Office of Transportation and Air Quality web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/im.htm
For
For more information on this proposed rulemaking, contact Dave
Sosnowski at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734)214-4823
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