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EPA Approves Discontinuation of Kentucky Inspection and Maintenance Program

Release Date: 10/04/2005
Contact Information: Benjamin N. Haynes, (404) 562-8027, [email protected]

(ATLANTA – October 4, 2005) – A final rule signed by EPA Region 4 Administrator, Jimmy Palmer,  permitting the commonwealth of Kentucky to discontinue the Northern Kentucky Inspection and Maintenance program, otherwise known as the Vehicle Emissions Testing (VET) Program, was published in the Federal Register (70 FR 57750) today and will become effective November 3, 2005.

Removal of this program was made possible by Kentucky’s equivalent emission reductions from other controls in this area. The Northern Kentucky VET Program is credited with reducing daily emissions of volatile organic compounds by .78 tons and nitrogen oxides by .29 tons in 2005. These pollutants, combined with sunlight, form ground level ozone. These reductions are necessary to ensure this action will not interfere with their ability to protect public health relating to ozone levels in this area.

To replace these emissions reductions, EPA approved compensating equivalent emissions reductions from two Kentucky regulations affecting new solvent metal cleaning equipment operations, and commercial motor vehicle and mobile equipment refinishing operations in the Northern Kentucky areas comprised of Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties, and is part of the Cincinnati-Hamilton Metropolitan Statistical Area.  

This final rule addresses comments made on EPA’s proposed rulemaking published for this action April 4, 2005. For more information contact Benjamin Haynes, [email protected], EPA Media Relations, at (404) 562-8027.