News Release 069

PROPOSED INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE RULES TO IMPLEMENT NEW EMISSIONS TESTING IN ST. LOUIS AREA HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED

Volume 35-069	Contact: Renee Bungart
(For immediate release)	573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, FEB. 23, 2007 -- Proposed rules to implement the new vehicle emissions inspection program were published in the February 15 issue of the Missouri Register.

The proposed rules address the changes that are in store for the program effective Sept. 1 and will address the statutory changes pursuant to Section 643.303, RSMo, which became effective Aug. 28.

The first of these rules, 10 CSR 10-5.381, On-Board Diagnostics Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection, replaces the current St. Louis ozone nonattainment area centralized vehicle emissions program with a decentralized on-board diagnostics (OBD) vehicle emissions program starting Sept. 1. This new rule establishes a program that will test 1996 and newer vehicles with the OBD test and eliminates emissions testing for 1995 and older vehicles.

The following highlights are being implemented with this rule as dictated by Section 643.303, RSMo:

Independently owned businesses in the St. Louis ozone nonattainment area will be licensed to conduct the OBD emissions testing, rather than a single, centralized contractor.
1996 and newer gasoline-powered vehicles registered in St. Louis City, St. Charles, St. Louis, Jefferson and Franklin counties will be tested using onboard-diagnostics, or OBD testing.
Tailpipe testing will no longer be performed.
1997 light duty diesel powered vehicles will also require testing.

This new rule will replace the two rules currently in place.
The documents pertaining to this action will be available for review and comment in the Public Notices section at the Web site www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/index.html and at the following locations:

Air Pollution Control Program, 1659A E. Elm St., Jefferson City, 573-751-4817;
Kansas City Regional Office, 500 NE Colbern Rd., Lee's Summit, 816-622-7000;
Northeast Regional Office, 1709 Prospect Dr., Macon, 660-385-2129;
Southeast Regional Office, 2155 N. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff, 573-840-9750;
St. Louis Regional Office, 7545 S. Lindbergh, Ste. 210, St. Louis, 314-416-2960;
Southwest Regional Office, 2040 W. Woodland, Springfield, 417-891-4300.

Citizens and organizations wishing to comment on this matter can notify the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Air Pollution Control Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176, or telephone 573-526-4679. The department will accept written comments for the record until 5 p.m. on April 5. Please send two copies of written comments to Chief, Operations Section, Air Pollution Control Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176.

There will also be a public hearing at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Missouri Air Conservation Commission on March 29 at Café 37 in the Walnut Room on 37 Court Square, West Plains, Mo. The department is required to respond to all comments in writing as part of the rulemaking process. Written comments and oral public hearing testimony are treated with equal consideration.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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