AQ_GEN_PIO_20240827_MISC_PressRls

Aug. 27, 2024

REMINDER: DEQ Accepting Comments on Revisions to State Plan
that Would Remove Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program from 18
Counties
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air
Quality (DAQ) is accepting public comments on draft revisions to the Inspection &
Maintenance State Implementation Plan.
Public comments are accepted through Sept. 4.
The revisions, if approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, would remove the
requirement for vehicle emissions inspections in 18 North Carolina counties and limit
the vehicles subject to inspections in Mecklenburg County, the only county that would
remain in the program.
In 2023, the General Assembly authorized the removal of 18 counties from the
emissions inspection program. These counties are Alamance, Buncombe, Cabarrus,
Cumberland, Davidson, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Johnston,
Lincoln, New Hanover, Randolph, Rowan, Union and Wake counties.
For Mecklenburg County, Session Law 2023-134 also changed the definition of a
vehicle subject to an emissions inspection to a vehicle with a model year within 20 years
of the current year and earlier than the 2017 model year.
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles requires vehicles in all 100 counties to undergo
annual safety inspections. The revisions to the emissions inspections would not change
the requirement for safety inspections.
Before these changes to the emissions program can be implemented in North Carolina,
DAQ must modify its Inspection & Maintenance State Implementation Plan and
demonstrate that the state can still meet federal air quality standards with these
changes. The legislature required DAQ to complete and submit the revised Plan to EPA
by October 3, 2024. EPA would then need to approve the revised Plan prior to the
revisions taking effect.
The vehicle emissions inspection program is designed to ensure that air pollution
controls on cars and trucks are operating correctly. The program began in 1982 and
later was expanded to 48 of 100 counties.
Since then, vehicles and fuels have become much cleaner, and modern vehicles emit
far less pollution than older vehicles. The growing adoption of zero-emission vehicles,
including electric cars, is further reducing air pollution from the transportation sector.
Also, onboard diagnostic technology (OBD) has improved; these computer systems can
detect issues with a car and alert drivers that repairs are needed before an inspection
would be due.
While emissions inspections are currently required in 19 counties, DAQ’s technical
analysis and modeling found that all North Carolina counties, including Mecklenburg
County, are expected to continue to meet federal air quality standards if emissions
inspection requirements ended statewide. While DAQ is proposing to remove
Mecklenburg County from the Inspection & Maintenance State Implementation Plan
along with the other 18 counties, state law will continue to require emissions inspections
in Mecklenburg County.
Related documents are posted to the Division’s website. The public is invited to review
the Division’s analysis and draft revisions to the State Implementation Plan and submit
comments. All comments received by the deadline will be reviewed and considered.
Comments can be made via email to [e-mail] (please type
“Remove 19 Counties from IM Program” in the subject line) or left via voicemail by
calling 919-707-8429. Comments can also be mailed or faxed to:
Randy Strait
NC Division of Air Quality
1641 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1641
Fax: [phone]
The Division will not host a public hearing on this topic because no requests to hold a
public hearing were received by the Aug. 16 request deadline. More information is in the
public notice.
After DAQ submits the revised State Implementation Plan to EPA, the federal agency
will have 18 months to review the plan. It would then hold its own public comment
period on its decision to either approve or deny the revisions.
Current emissions inspection requirements will remain in place until the approval
process is complete and the effective date is announced by the state of North Carolina.
More information about the Inspection & Maintenance Program is on DAQ’s website.

For More Information
Contact: Shawn Taylor
Phone: [phone]