Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Massachusetts; Low Emission Vehicle Program

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on August 9, 2002 and August 26, 2002. The SIP revision amends the Massachusetts Low Emission Vehicle (LEV ) program that is currently contained in the federally- approved SIP by replacing it with a revised version of the LEV program adopted on December 24, 1999. EPA proposed to approve this on October 15, 2002 (67 FR 63583), and received comments from five parties, four of which supported the action fully and one of which outlined some concerns. The regulations adopted by Massachusetts now include the California LEV II motor vehicle emission standards effective in model year 2004, the California LEV I medium-duty standards effective in model year 2003 and the smog index label specification effective in model year 2002. Massachusetts has adopted these revisions to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). In addition, Massachusetts has worked to ensure that its motor vehicle emission program is identical to California's, as required by section 177 of the CAA. EPA is approving the revised version Massachusetts LEV program adopted on December 24, 1999, with the exception of the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) program. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.