Minor Amendments to Inspection/Maintenance Program Requirements

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 51

[FRL-5610-5]

Minor Amendments to Inspection/Maintenance Program Requirements

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to change a provision of the federal

vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) rules relating to motorist

compliance enforcement mechanisms for pre-

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existing programs. The current rule limits the use of pre-existing

enforcement mechanisms to those geographic areas previously subject to

the I/M program. This proposed rule change allows states to employ

effective pre-existing enforcement mechanisms in any area in the state

currently subject to the I/M program. This proposed amendment is

consistent with the relevant requirements of the Clean Air Act.

DATES: Written comments on this proposal must be received no later than

October 23, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Materials relevant to this rulemaking are contained in the

Public Docket No. A-91-75. The docket is located at the Air Docket,

Room M-1500 (6102), Waterside Mall SW, Washington, DC 20460. The docket

may be inspected between 8:30 a.m. and 12 noon and between 1:30 p.m.

and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying

docket material. Electronic copies of the preamble and the regulatory

text of this rulemaking are available on the Office of Air Quality

Planning and Standards (OAQPS) Technology Transfer Network Bulletin

Board System (TTN BBS) and the Office of Mobile Sources' World Wide Web

cite, hhtp://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leila Cook, Office of Mobile Sources,

National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, 2565 Plymouth Road, Ann

Arbor, Michigan, 48105. Telephone (313) 741-7820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990

(the Act), 42 U.S.C. 7401 et. seq., the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register on November 5, 1992 (40

CFR part 51, subpart S) rules relating to motor vehicle inspection and

maintenance (I/M) programs (hereafter referred to as the I/M rule; see

57 FR 52950). EPA here proposes to amend those rules to broaden the

geographic area in which pre-existing enforcement mechanisms can be

employed.

In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA has

published a direct final rule making these same amendments to Part 51

without prior proposal because EPA views these amendments as

noncontroversial and does not expect to receive any adverse comments on

this proposal. For a full explanation of the proposed changes and the

rationale behind them, readers are referred to that direct final rule.

EPA here solicits comments on the proposal. Should anyone submit

comments on this proposal, EPA will publish a subsequent document in

the Federal Register withdrawing the direct final rule prior to the

effective date. EPA will then publish another final rule responding to

the comments received and taking final action on this proposal. Anyone

wishing to comment on the proposal should do so at this time. If no

adverse comments are received the direct final rule will take effect

and no further activity is contemplated in relation to this proposed

rule.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 51

Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,

Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide, Intergovernmental relations,

Lead, Motor vehicle pollution, Nitrogen oxide, Ozone, Particulate

matter, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides,

Volatile organic compounds.

Dated: September 10, 1996.

Carol M. Browner,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 96-23656 Filed 9-20-96; 8:45 am]

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