Amendments to Vehicle Inspection Maintenance Program Requirements Incorporating the Onboard Diagnostic Check

Today's action revises the Motor Vehicle Inspection/ Maintenance (I/M) requirements to: extend the deadline for beginning onboard diagnostic (OBD) inspections from January 1, 2001 to January 1, 2002; allow areas showing good cause up to an additional 12 months' delay; allow for a one-time-only, one-cycle phase-in period for the OBD-I/M check; revise and simplify the failure criteria for the OBD-I/M check; address State Implementation Plan (SIP) credit modeling for the OBD-I/M check; and, allow for limited exemptions from some OBD check failure and rejection criteria for certain model year vehicles. Today's action also provides additional flexibility to state I/M programs by allowing such programs to suspend traditional I/M tests on model year (MY) 1996 and newer, OBD-equipped vehicles provided such vehicles are subject to a check of the OBD system. Lastly, this action provides EPA's guidance regarding certain discretionary elements associated with the successful implementation of the OBD check in an I/M environment.