[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 11 (Thursday, January 16, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2275-2276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-854]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[MD 137-3093b; FRL-7436-8]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Maryland; 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.

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SUMMARY: EPA proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) 
revision submitted by the State of Maryland. The purpose of this SIP is 
to request a six-month extension of the Federal deadline for 
incorporating checks of On-board Diagnostic (OBD) systems on 1996-and-
newer vehicles to Maryland'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. Maryland's SIP revision contains a request for a six-month 
delay, or until July 1, 2002.
    In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is 
approving Maryland's SIP request as a direct final rule without prior 
proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial request 
and anticipates no adverse comments. A more detailed description of 
Maryland'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direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received 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 February 18, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Robert Kramer, 
Acting Chief, Air Quality Planning and Information Services, 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 Maryland Department of the Environment, 2500 Broening Highway, 
Baltimore, Maryland, 21224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet C. Kremer, (215) 814-2147, or by 
e-mail at [email protected]. Please note that while questions may be 
posed

[[Page 2276]]

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. Please note that if EPA receives adverse 
comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that 
provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt 
as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an 
adverse comment.

    Dated: December 23, 2002.
Judith M. Katz,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.
[FR Doc. 03-854 Filed 1-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P