Signed by EPA Administrator on July 15, 1998. 


ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles; Compliance programs
for new light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks.

ACTION:  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

SUMMARY: This action proposes to revise the emissions compliance
procedures for light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks.  The
Environmental Protection Agency (referred to hereafter as "EPA" or
"the Agency") is proposing a new compliance assurance program
(referred to as "CAP 2000").  CAP 2000 would simplify and streamline
the current procedures for pre-production certification of new motor
vehicles.  Under this proposal, the certification program would
provide the same environmental benefits as the current procedures
while significantly reducing the certification cost for manufacturers,
and would give manufacturers more control of production timing.  EPA
is also proposing that manufacturers test in-use motor vehicles to
monitor compliance with emission standards.  Manufacturers would test
samples of in-use vehicles when they are approximately one and four
years old.  These test data would be used to improve the certification
process to predict in-use compliance and to determine the need for
further action by the Agency or the manufacturer to address any in-use
compliance problems.  EPA proposes that CAP 2000 be implemented
beginning with model year (MY) 2001 vehicles.  Manufacturers would be
allowed to voluntarily opt-in to the CAP 2000 procedures beginning
with the 2000 model year.  EPA estimates that overall, manufacturers
would save about $55 million dollars a year as a result of today's
proposal.

DATES: Written comments on this NPRM must be submitted on or before
[insert date 30 days after Public Hearing date].  A public hearing
will be held on [insert date 15 days after publication in the Federal
Register].  Requests to present oral testimony must be received on or
before [Insert date 5 days prior to the date of the public hearing].
If EPA receives no requests to present oral testimony by this date,
the hearing will be cancelled.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted (in duplicate, if
possible,) to: EPA Air & Radiation Docket, Attn Docket # A-96-50, Room
M-1500 (Mail Code 6102),401 M. Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460.
Materials relevant to this rulemaking are contained in Docket No.
A-96-50 and may be viewed in room M-1500 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30
p.m., Monday through Friday.  The telephone number is (202) 260-7548
and the facsimile number is (202)260-4400.  A reasonable fee may be
charged by EPA for copying docket material.  

The public hearing will be held at the Holiday Inn North Campus, Ann
Arbor, MI.  The hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. and continue until
all testimony has been presented. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

Linda Hormes, Vehicle Programs and Compliance Division, US EPA, 2000
Traverwood, Ann Arbor Michigan 48105, telephone (734)214-4502, E-mail:
hormes.linda@epa.gov.