2003 I/M Program Annual Report - Executive Summary
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA or EPA) has defined the reporting requirements for all state-run Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) programs in 40 CFR Part 51.366 (7-1-98 Edition). The I/M program for the State of New York (the State) is jointly administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYSDMV). This report reflects the coordination between the two agencies and is being submitted to the EPA to fulfill the State's annual reporting requirements for the calendar year of 2003.
Since 1998, the State has implemented a high enhanced I/M program in the nine (9) counties of the New York Metropolitan Area (NYMA). A mass emission transient test, referred to as New York Transient Emission Short Test (NYTEST), is the cornerstone of this program. In 2003, more than four million registered vehicles and trucks received an annual inspection and/or emissions testing. A low enhanced I/M program has been implemented in the remaining fifty-three (53) counties of New York (Upstate New York or UPSTATE) since 1998.
During 2003, improvements were made on various aspects of the NYMA I/M Program:
- a registration-based denial enforcement program for all model year 1981 and later light duty vehicles;
- NYTEST software reviews;
- the implementation of the EPA final IM240 cut points;
- regularly scheduled calibration and equipment audits;
- the use of a computerized network to monitor operation;
- the use of a computer database to detect fraudulent activities; and,
- the effective use of administrative stops as part of the quality assurance program.
Our goal is for continued improvement of many of the tasks that were already in place in the program. In particular, the implementation of an OBD inspection program for both NYMA and UPSTATE, more efficient use of computerized network and database to reduce fraudulent activities, and, continuation of equipment audits within the NYMA I/M program. Through our diligence and continued coordination between NYSDMV and NYSDEC, it is believed that we will attain the conformance with New York's I/M State Implementation Plan (SIP) and its intended goal, cleaner air for the residents of New York.
