These tests provide no significant additional information regarding vehicle emission performance beyond that already provided by the OBD-II scans. Furthermore, the two evaporative system tests have never been conducted by the I/M program and are intrusive, involving the cutting or crimping of fuel vapor lines. The steady-state tests were effective early in the I/M program, but are no longer conducted. These tests are poor at identifying and diagnosing emission problems in today's vehicles.
Comparison with federal regulations
The proposed rule is consistent with the federal clean air act and the federal regulations for motor vehicle inspection and maintenance programs under that act. These regulations are found in
40 CFR 51.350 to
51.373.
Comparison with similar rules in adjacent states
Illinois is the only adjacent state that has a vehicle inspection and maintenance program. In Illinois the repair cost limit for a waiver is $450. Thus, the state of Illinois has not adjusted its repair cost limit for the increase in the federal consumer price index since 1989.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued guidance for adjusting the repair cost limit for inflation: Calculation of the I/M Waiver Adjusted for CPI, Office of Mobile Sources, U.S. EPA, EPA 420-B-99-011, December, 1999,
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/epg/b99011.pdf. The DNR has followed this guidance for calculating the repair cost limit. The consumer price index (CPI) adjustment for 1989 to 2008 was 1.7487, resulting in a repair cost limit for July, 2009, through June, 2010, of $450 * 1.7487 = $787.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine the effect on small business
The only economic effect of the proposed rule is that the I/M-related repairs may be more expensive for some vehicles in Sheboygan County that what they would be under the current rule. The proposed rule would not affect repair costs for vehicles in the other six I/M program counties. The DNR estimates that under the proposed rule, the average cost to repair a failed vehicle during 2011 would be $416 throughout the seven-county program area. The DNR further estimates that under the current rule the average cost to repair a failed vehicle during 2011 would be only $200 for vehicles in Sheboygan County and the same $416 value for vehicles in the other six I/M program counties. Thus, the proposed rule is estimated to increase the average repair cost per failed vehicle in Sheboygan County by $216.
Small Business Impact
Small businesses that own vehicles subject to the I/M program have been and will continue to be affected by the I/M program in the same way that individual vehicle owners are affected. The proposed rule may have a small, but not significant, economic impact on those small businesses that own non-exempt vehicles registered in Sheboygan County. Improved fuel efficiency resulting from the more thorough repairs may offset some of these increased costs. The proposed rule will not impose any new requirements on small businesses.
Environmental Impact
The Department has made a preliminary determination that adoption of the proposed rules would not involve significant adverse environmental effects and would not need an environmental analysis under ch.
NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on comments received, an environmental analysis may be prepared before proceeding. This analysis would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and any reasonable alternatives.
Fiscal Estimate
The only fiscal effect of the proposed rule is that the I/M-related repairs may be more expensive for some vehicles in Sheboygan County than what they would be under the current rule. The proposed rule would not affect repair costs for vehicles in the other six I/M program counties. The DNR estimates that under the proposed rule, the average cost to repair a failed vehicle during 2011 would be $416 throughout the seven-county program area. The DNR further estimates that under the current rule the average cost to repair a failed vehicle during 2011 would be only $200 for vehicles in Sheboygan County and the same $416 value for vehicles in the other six I/M program counties. Thus, the proposed rule is estimated to increase the average repair cost per failed vehicle in Sheboygan County by $216. Since about seven percent of the vehicles fail the initial inspection and since vehicles are inspected every other year, the estimated annual average additional repair cost per inspected vehicle in Sheboygan County is: $216 * 0.07 * 0.5 = $7.56.
The DNR estimates that the number of state and local government vehicles registered in Sheboygan County which are subject to inspection is 565 (115 for state government and 450 for local governments). Thus the total increased costs are $7.56 * 115 = $870 for state government and $7.56 * 450 = $3400 for local governments.
The proposed rule would have some fiscal effect on the private sector. The affected entities would be those having vehicles registered in Sheboygan County which are subject to inspection. The estimated fiscal effect is an average increase in annual repair costs of $7.56 per inspected vehicle. Thus, the estimated fiscal effect for an entity having 100 vehicles registered in Sheboygan County and subject to inspection is $756 per year.
Improved fuel efficiency resulting from the more thorough repairs may offset some of these increased costs.
Agency Contact Person
Chris Bovee
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Phone: (608) 266-5542
Fax: (608) 267-0560
Notice of Hearings
Natural Resources
Environmental Protection — Air Pollution Control,
Chs.
NR 400—
(DNR # AM-16-10)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to ss.
227.16 and
227.17, Stats, the Department of Natural Resources, hereinafter the Department, will hold public hearings on proposed rules to revise Chapters
NR 400,
404 to
408, and
484, relating to air pollution permit requirements for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) emissions. The proposed revisions relate to issues for State Implementation Plan approvability, and the State Implementation Plan developed under s.
285.11(6), Stats., will be revised.
Hearing Information
Date and Time: Location:
June 7, 2010 Natural Resources State Office Bldg.
Monday Room G09
at 2:30 PM 101 S. Webster Street
Madison, WI
June 8, 2010 Havenwoods — Auditorium
Tuesday 6141 N. Hopkins
at 1:30 PM Milwaukee, WI
June 9, 2010 Northcentral Technical College
Wednesday Main Building, Room E101
at 2:00 PM 1000 West Campus Drive
Wausau, WI
Reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Contact Robert B. Eckdale in writing at the Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Air Management (AM/7), 101 S Webster, Madison, WI 53707; by E-mail to
Robert.Eckdale@wisconsin.gov; or by calling (608) 266-2856. A request must include specific information and be received at least 10 days before the date of the scheduled hearing.
Copies of the proposed rules and fiscal estimate
The proposed rule and supporting documents, including the fiscal estimate, may be viewed and downloaded from the
Administrative Rules System Web site which can be accessed through the link provided on the Proposed Air Pollution Control Rules Calendar at
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/ air/rules/calendar.htm. If you do not have Internet access, a printed copy of the proposed rule and supporting documents, including the fiscal estimate, may be obtained free of charge by contacting Robert B. Eckdale, Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Air Management (AM/7), 101 S. Webster St., Madison, WI 53703, or by calling (608) 266-2856.
Submittal of Written Comments
Comments on the proposed rule must be received on or before Monday, June 14, 2010. Written comments may be submitted by U.S. mail, fax, E-mail, or through the Internet and will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearing. Written comments and any questions on the proposed rules should be submitted to:
Steve Dunn
Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Air Management (AM/7)
101 S. Webster Street, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608 267-0566
Fax: 608 267-0560
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Natural Resources
Statute interpreted
The State Implementation Plan developed under s.
285.11 (1) and
(6), Stats., is revised.
Statutory authority
Explanation of agency authority
Section
227.11(2)(a), Stats., gives state agencies general rulemaking authority. Section
227.14(1m)(b), Stats., allows the Department to use the format of federal regulations in preparing a proposed rule if it determines that all or part of a state environmental regulatory program is to be administered according to standards, requirements or methods which are similar to standards, requirements or methods specified for all or part of a federal environmental program. Section
285.11(1), Stats., gives the Department authority to promulgate rules consistent with ch.
285, Stats. Section
285.11(16), Stats., requires the Department to promulgate rules, consistent with but no more restrictive than the federal clean air act, that specify the amounts of emissions that result in a stationary source being classified as a major source. Section
285.11(17) requires the Department to develop and implement rules that define the term modification in a manner consistent with the clean air act.
Related statute or rule
None.
Plain language analysis
The proposed rules contained in this order reflect changes made by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their regulations regarding the regulation matter less than 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5). The Department needs to make this change in order to retain EPA approval of Wisconsin's air permit programs.
PM2.5 is proposed to be included as a pollutant used to determine whether a facility is a major source of air pollution. Additionally, increases in PM2.5 emissions will potentially trigger the need to obtain an air pollution control construction permit, including requirements to control emissions to levels which represent best available control technology or lowest achievable emission rate.
Additionally, the rule package includes some cleanup changes to otherwise unaffected existing rules. These changes are proposed to include up-to-date test methods and definitions in these existing rules. These changes do not change the effect or intent of these rules.
Comparison with federal regulations
The proposed PM2.5 rules will make the regulations consistent with the equivalent Federal rules.
Comparison with similar rules in adjacent states
The proposed rule is based on the federal rule changes. The adjacent states will all be implementing the federal rule changes.
Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
The proposed rule is based on the federal rule changes and the data and methodologies used by USEPA in developing these rules. Some portions of the proposed rule have yet to be finalized by the USEPA. Finalization of these rule sections is expected in Spring 2010. Placeholders for these final rule additions are included in the proposed rule.
Analysis and supporting documents used to determine the effect on small business
An analysis of the effect of the proposed rules on small business was not performed since the proposed rule only impacts major sources of air pollution in the State and conforms to federal requirements. Major sources of air pollution are not typically small businesses. Additionally, USEPA has concluded that this rule will not impact a significant number of small entities.
Small Business Impact
These rules should not have a significant economic impact on small businesses because major air pollution sources do not generally meet the definition of a small business.
Environmental Impact
The Department has made a preliminary determination that adoption of the proposed rules would not involve significant adverse environmental effects and would not need an environmental analysis under ch.
NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code. However, based on comments received, an environmental analysis may be prepared before proceeding. This analysis would summarize the Department's consideration of the impacts of the proposal and any reasonable alternatives.
Fiscal Estimate
The Department anticipates that there will be no state fiscal effect and no local government costs as a result of the proposed rules. In addition, the Department does expect the proposed rules will have a significant fiscal impact on those private sector facilities requiring permits.
Agency Contact Person
Steven Dunn
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Phone: (608) 267-0566
Fax: (608) 267-0560
