Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; State of Massachusetts; Interim Final Determination That Massachusetts Has Corrected the Deficiencies of Its I/M SIP Revision

On September 27, 1999, EPA published in the Federal Register (64 FR 51937) a rulemaking action proposing approval of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program, and in a separate action (64 FR 51943) proposing approval of rate-of-progress (ROP) plans as part of the State Implementation Plan (SIP), under Section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Elsewhere in today's Federal Register EPA is publishing a supplemental proposed rulemaking notice for comment clarifying the test method used in Massachusetts' I/M program, providing additional information on the emission reduction credit projected for the program, and explaining the impact on the ROP plans. Based on the proposed action, today's supplemental document, the commencement of I/M program roll-out on October 1, 1999, and the commitments made by the Commonwealth, including a commitment to fully enforce compliance with the I/M program as of December 15, 1999, EPA is making an interim final determination that the State will have more likely than not implemented an approvable enhanced I/M program when it becomes effective on December 15, 1999. Today's action will, beginning on December 15, 1999, defer the application of the offset sanction that has been in effect since May 15, 1999, and the federal highway fund sanctions that take effect on November 15, 1999.