Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Commonwealth of Virginia; Interim Final Determination for the Enhanced Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program

Elsewhere in today's Federal Register, EPA has published a proposed rule to amend the Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) Program Requirements (the I/M rule). That document proposes, in part, revisions to the Motor Vehicle I/M requirements by replacing the I/M rule requirement that the tailpipe portion of the mandatory program evaluation be performed using only an IM240 or equivalent mass-emission transient test with a requirement that states use a sound evaluation methodology capable of providing accurate information about the overall effectiveness of an I/M program. In addition, the proposal would amend the conditions relating to the program evaluation testing requirements that were part of the conditional interim approval actions taken on the I/M State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for the Commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Virginia and the State of Delaware, consistent with the proposed rule change. Based on the proposed rule and for the reasons discussed below, EPA is making an interim final determination by this action that the commitment dates concerning the major deficiencies in Virginia's I/M SIP should be extended out to June 16, 1998. The June 16, 1998 date is one year from the effective date of the final conditional interim approval of the I/M program, the outside date allowed under the Clean Air Act (CAA) for conditional approvals. Although this action is effective upon publication, EPA will take comment on whether this interim final determination should remain in place. In addition, this action will amend the commitment dates pertaining to the major deficiencies cited in the rulemaking section of the final conditional interim approval for the Commonwealth of Virginia's I/M program.