Inspection and Maintenance Program SIP

Final – October 1, 2024

On October 1, 2024, the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) submitted the final State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision and Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 110(l) Noninterference Demonstration to Remove 19 Counties from North Carolina's Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) Program for approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Section 12.7 of Session Law 2023-134 amended North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) §143-215.107A(c) to remove 18 of the 19 counties from North Carolina’s I&M program and changed the vehicle model year coverage for Mecklenburg County which is the only county retained in the program. After consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the DAQ is also proposing to remove Mecklenburg County from the I&M SIP in this revision.  

Based on a technical study of county-level emissions increases associated with the proposed I&M program change, and current ambient air quality data, the DAQ concludes that removing the 19 counties from the I&M SIP will not interfere with continued attainment or maintenance of any applicable National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Note that although the DAQ is requesting EPA approval to remove Mecklenburg County from the I&M SIP, the I&M program will continue to be implemented in the county as required in Section 12.7 of Session Law 2023-134. 

DEQ Submittal:

Final - December 14, 2020

On December 14, 2020, the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) submitted the final State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision and Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 110(l) Noninterference Demonstration to Remove Lee, Onslow, and Rockingham Counties from North Carolina's Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) Program for approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The North Carolina General Assembly enacted Session Law 2020-5, House Bill 85 (An Act to Remove Lee, Onslow, and Rockingham Counties from the Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program) which amended North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) §143-215.107A(c) to remove three of 22 counties from North Carolina’s I&M program. Based on a technical study of county-level emissions increases associated with the proposed I&M program change, and current ambient air quality data, the DAQ concludes that removing the three counties from North Carolina’s I&M SIP will not interfere with continued attainment or maintenance of any applicable National Ambient Air Quality Standard. Therefore, the DAQ is requesting EPA’s approval to remove Lee, Onslow, and Rockingham Counties from North Carolina’s I&M SIP, which is a required before North Carolina can officially remove the counties from the I&M program.

DEQ Submittal:

EPA Actions:

DEQ Action -- August 15, 2022:

Final State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision Related to Changing the Vehicle Model Year Coverage for 22 Counties Subject to North Carolina’s Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) Program -- July 25, 2018

On July 25, 2018, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) submitted a final package to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise North Carolina’s motor vehicle I&M SIP and Motor Vehicle Emission Control Standard air quality rules to comply with Section 3.5.(b) of Session Law 2017-10 which amended North Carolina General Statute §20-183.2(b) by proposing to change the vehicle model year coverage to a rolling 20-year cycle based on the most current year.  Based on a technical study of county-level emissions increases associated with the proposed I&M program change, and current ambient air quality data, the DEQ concluded that changing the vehicle model year coverage will not interfere with continued attainment or maintenance of any applicable National Ambient Air Quality Standard.  The final package included proposed revisions to the I&M SIP, Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 110(l) Noninterference Demonstration, and Revised Maintenance Plan for the Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury Area for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard which are available through the following links.  The revised air quality rules are located at 15A NCAC 02D .1000, Motor Vehicle Emission Control Standard.

DEQ SIP Submittal -- July 25, 2018:

EPA Actions:

  • Final Rule: Air Plan Approval; NC: Revision to I&M Program & Update to Charlotte Maintenance Plan for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS (84 FR 47889, September 11, 2019)
  • Proposed Rule: Air Plan Approval; NC: Revision to I&M Program & Update to Charlotte Maintenance Plan for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS (84 FR 22774, May 20 2019)

DEQ Action -- September 17, 2019: 

Final State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision and Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 110(l) Noninterference Demonstration for Removing 26 Counties from North Carolina's Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) Program -- November 17, 2017

The North Carolina General Assembly enacted Session Law 2017-10, Senate Bill 131 (An Act to Provide Further Regulatory Relief to the Citizens of North Carolina) which revised the state’s I&M program. Section 3.5.(a) of the Act amended North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) §143-215.107A(c) to remove 26 of 48 counties from North Carolina’s I&M program. Based on a technical study of county-level emissions increases associated with the proposed I&M program change, and current ambient air quality data, the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) concluded that removing the 26 counties from North Carolina’s I&M SIP will not interfere with continued attainment or maintenance of any applicable National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Therefore, the DAQ requested EPA’s approval to remove 26 counties from North Carolina’s I&M SIP, which is required before North Carolina can officially remove the counties from the I&M program.

In addition, the DAQ requested that EPA approve revisions to the I&M SIP to update program-related data and to remove Section C (Basic I&M Performance Standards). The revisions include removing Section C from the SIP because: (1) performance standard modeling is no longer required since the I&M program areas for which it was previously required have been redesignated to attainment for the pollutants that originally triggered this I&M requirement; and (2) the I&M program is being continued as part of the maintenance plan for the program areas.

The final SIP Revision and CAA Section 110(l) Noninterference Demonstration for Removing 26 Counties from North Carolina's Emissions I&M Program are available through the following links:

DEQ SIP Submittal -- November 17, 2017:

EPA Actions:

Supplement to the State Implementation Plan for the Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Program and Maintenance Demonstration for North Carolina - October 11, 2013

The final supplement to the SIP for the Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) Program and Maintenance Demonstration for North Carolina was submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 11, 2013. This SIP revision and Clean Air Act Section 110(l) non-interference/maintenance demonstration was prepared in response to House Bill 585 (Session Law 2012-199) enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly on August 1, 2012, which exempts certain vehicles 1996 or newer from requiring an emissions inspection. The law is interpreted as exempting vehicles of the three newest model years with less than 70,000 miles on the odometer from an emissions inspection. Prior to the law being enacted, only the newest model year (1st year) vehicles were exempted from the state I&M program. In a separate action, the Division of Air Quality amended state rules under 15A NCAC 02D Section .1000 to comply with the legislation and submitted the draft rules to EPA on February 11, 2014.

DEQ SIP Submittal -- October 11, 2013:

Inspection and Maintenance SIP Revision for North Carolina -- May 24, 2010

A SIP revision for the North Carolina I&M Program was submitted to EPA on May 24, 2010. This SIP revision demonstrates that the North Carolina Program complies with Federal regulations. The transmittal letter and full SIP are available through the following links:

DEQ SIP Submittal -- May 24, 2010:

EPA Actions:

EPA amendment correcting an error related to the North Carolina Motor Vehicle Emissions Control Standard rules to remove a provision of the State's otherwise federally-enforceable regulations that could result in infringement upon the sovereign immunity of federal facilities.

EPA approval of North Carolina SIP revisions submitted to EPA on January 31, 2008, May 24, 2010, October 11, 2013, and February 11, 2014, pertaining to state rule changes to North Carolina’s I&M program. Specifically, these SIP revisions update the North Carolina I&M program and repealed one rule that is included in the federally-approved SIP.

  • Final rule: Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina; Inspection and Maintenance Program Updates (80 FR 6455, February 5, 2015)
  • Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule: Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina; Inspection and Maintenance Program Updates (80 FR 2612, January 20, 2015)
  • Direct Final Rule: Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina; Inspection and Maintenance Program Updates (79 FR 69051, November 20, 2014)
  • Proposed Rule: Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina; Inspection and Maintenance Program Updates (79 FR 69090, November 20, 2014)

EPA amendment correcting inadvertent errors for two rule titles in the regulatory text of EPA’s October 30, 2002, direct final rule. The rule titles should read, "Sect .1004 Tailpipe Emission Standards for CO and HC" and "Sect. 1005 On-Board Diagnostic” in the "Identification of Plan" Section of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR 52.1770(c).

  • Direct Final Rule: Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina; Approval of Revisions to Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) Regulations Within the North Carolina State Implementation Plan; Correcting Amendment (79 FR 66654, November 10, 2014)

EPA approval of North Carolina's I&M program rules which are a component of the State’s Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Budget and Allowance Trading Program.

  • Direct Final Rule: Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina: Approval of Revisions to Inspection and Maintenance (I&M) Regulations Within the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (67 FR 66056, October 30, 2002)

Please direct any further questions or comments concerning this SIP submittal to the Planning Section Chief.