Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program-Request for Delay in the Incorporation of On-Board Diagnostics Testing

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA proposes to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The purpose of this SIP is to request a one-year extension of the Federal deadline for incorporating checks of on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems on 1996-and-newer vehicles to the Commonwealth's motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program. EPA's I/M requirements regulations required states to add OBD checks to their I/M programs by January 1, 2002. However, states had the option to submit a request to EPA for a delay, of up to one additional year, of the deadline to add OBD system checks to the I/M program. Pennsylvania's SIP revision contains a request for the maximum one-year delay allowed by EPA, or until January 1, 2003.

In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving Pennsylvania's SIP request as a direct final rule without prior proposal, because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial SIP request and anticipates no adverse comments. A more detailed description of the Commonwealth's request and a detailed rationale for EPA's granting of the requested deadline extension is set forth in the direct final rule.

If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

DATES:

Comments must be received in writing by July 8, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments should be addressed to David Arnold, Chief, Air Quality Planning and Information Services Branch, Mailcode 3AP21, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the documents relevant to this action are available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. These documents are also available from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources Bureau of Air Quality Control, P.O. Box 8468, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brian Rehn, (215) 814-2176, or by e-mail at rehn.brian@epa.gov. Please note that while questions may be posed via telephone and e-mail, formal comments must be submitted in writing, as indicated in the ADDRESSES section of this document.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

For further information, please see the information provided in the direct final action, with the same title, that is located in the “Rules and Regulations” section of this Federal Register publication.