Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina: Approval of Revisions to Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Regulations Within the North Carolina State Implementation Plan

Zusammenfassung

On August 7, 2002, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources submitted revisions to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions are contained within 15A NCAC 2D .1000 Motor Vehicle Emissions Control Standards. North Carolina has submitted these rules for an enhanced inspection and maintenance (I/M) program which is a component of the State's Nitrogen Oxides (NO X ) Budget and Allowance Trading Program. The I/M program establishes reductions which are being utilized by the State as part of their NO X SIP budget. Approval of these I/M rules allow North Carolina to gain credits ranging from 914 tons in 2004 to 4,385 credits in 2007. These credits are then used to determine the number of credits that will be made available for new growth in North Carolina. This submittal resolves all outstanding issues and allows for EPA's final approval of the State's NO X Budget and Allowance Trading Program. The final approval of the North Carolina NO X Budget and Allowance Trading Program, which was proposed for approval in 67 FR 42519 and received no adverse comments, will be processed in a later action. The EPA is approving these revisions.