PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 08-16-106.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: A new rule, chapter 173-422A WAC, Motor vehicle emission inspection, is being proposed and would apply to Washington's motor vehicle emission program beginning July 2012. The current rule, chapter 173-422 WAC, applies to Washington's motor vehicle emission program through June 2012.
Hearing Location(s): Federal Way 320th Library, 848 South 320th Street, Federal Way, WA 98003, on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. You can also listen to the hearing, live over the internet. Comments will not be accepted over the internet. Ecology will provide a link to listen in on the hearing via the internet. This link will be posted by March 15, 2011, at http://feeds.feedburner.com/ApplusWashingtonStateEmissionTesting-testWebsite?format=xml.
Date of Intended Adoption: June 23, 2011.
Submit Written Comments to: John Raymond, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, e-mail john.raymond@ecy.wa.gov, fax (360) 407-6802, by March 31, 2011.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact the air quality program at (360) 407-6800 by March 15, 2011. Persons with hearing loss, call 711 for Washington relay service. Persons with a speech disability, call 877-833-6341.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Extensive changes to the motor vehicle emission inspection program will result from state law revisions that directed ecology to authorize additional businesses to emission test vehicles starting July 2012. Rather than revise existing rule chapter 173-422 WAC, ecology is purposing a new rule to govern the motor vehicle emission inspection program. The existing rule, chapter 173-422 WAC, will remain in effect through June 2012.
The proposed rule includes the requirements that will apply starting July 1, 2012, to the Washington state motor vehicle emission inspection program. The revised program requirements include:
• Having all testing by authorized testers done
on-line using the state contractor's computer
system.
• Eliminating the gas cap test and dynamometer testing.
• Passing an on-board diagnostic (OBD) retest requires that the monitor(s) that detected a problem on the initial test be ready.
• Requiring the same test standards for all 1995 model year and older gasoline vehicles.
• Exempting light-duty diesel vehicles from testing.
• Tightening the test standards for heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
• Exempting heavy-duty diesel vehicles with an engine meeting 2007 emission standards or equipped with an exhaust particle filter from testing.
• Extensive rewording and reorganization to make the rule clearer and easier to understand.
• Other provisions necessary to implement the program.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed rule will facilitate the emission testing and repair by more businesses and reduce the impact of emission testing on the owners of older vehicles. Testing procedures and other requirements that are becoming less relevant will be discontinued. These cost-saving measures are possible because of the ever increasing number of newer vehicles that are tested by obtaining information from the vehicle's OBD system.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 70.120.120.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 70.120 RCW, RCW 70.120A.010(2).
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of ecology, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: John Raymond, Lacey, Washington, (360) 407-6856; Implementation and Enforcement: Stuart Clark, Lacey, Washington, (360) 407-6880.
A small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.
The objective of the small business economic impact statement (SBEIS) is to identify and evaluate the various requirements and costs the proposed rules might impose on businesses. In particular, the SBEIS examines whether the costs on businesses from the proposed rules impose a disproportionate impact on the state's small businesses. RCW 19.85.040 describes the specific purpose and required contents of an SBEIS.
Ecology is developing and issuing this SBEIS as part of its rule adoption process and to meet chapter 19.85 RCW.
Ecology estimated there are no positive net compliance costs created for existing small businesses under the proposed rule. As compliance by the public is required for the nominal fee by Washington state law, ecology expects the proposed rule will not reduce business or revenues for participating businesses. As such, ecology expects the proposed rule to increase revenue opportunities and create cost savings for small businesses, rather than impose costs.
Therefore, ecology has not prepared a complete SBEIS, but has summarized the net benefit opportunity to businesses, as created by the proposed rule.
Rule Proposal: Two elements were directed by the legislature:
All vehicles model year 2009 and newer will be exempt from emission testing.
Businesses including repair businesses would be allowed to test vehicles in addition to the contractor.
Ecology is also proposing to amend the rule to facilitate the continuation of emission testing. Therefore several test procedures and requirements that are becoming less relevant will be discontinued. The following requirements have been removed in order to reduce the cost of testing with the goal of maximizing testing convenience and facilitate repair and testing by more businesses:
Leak tests of gasoline filler caps.
Dynamometer testing.
The exhaust analyzer requirement for repair businesses listing.
Other rule provisions include:
Requiring all authorized testers to transmit test data on-line to ecology's contractor.
Requiring listed repair businesses to have an OBD scan tool with full diagnostic capabilities.
Permitting a vehicle unable to be retested be issued a waiver if all the other requirements are met.
Exempting light duty diesel powered vehicles and heavy-duty diesel powered vehicles with an engine that was certified by its manufacturer as meeting the EPA 2007 exhaust emission standards or equipped with an exhaust particle filter acceptable to ecology. This applies mainly to transit systems.
Relaxing the test standards for 1995 and older light-duty gasoline vehicles.
Requiring that for a vehicle to pass an OBD retest, the monitor(s) that detected a malfunction on the initial test must be ready.
Tightening diesel snap-acceleration test standards.
Costs to Those Required to Comply: Ecology does not believe the net costs to those small businesses required to comply are positive. That is, ecology believes small (or any) businesses will only enter the newly available emissions testing market (and therefore be subject to the requirements of the proposed rule) if their private benefits of the revenue stream exceed the compliance and other operating costs. Quite the opposite, ecology believes the proposed rule provides businesses, both small and large, with an additional revenue opportunity. Those small businesses required to comply include existing small repair businesses that would choose to become testers as well. Remaining costs are expected to be borne by nonbusiness members of the public.
Ecology also believes businesses will choose to enter the newly created industry of noncontractor emissions testers if the net benefit to them (the converse of net cost) is positive.
Because ecology does not expect positive net costs of compliance for small businesses, it is not possible to meet the standards of the Regulatory Fairness Act (chapter 19.85 RCW) in estimating the proportionality of the proposed rule's impact on small versus large businesses.
Even so, ecology believes this document is informative in presenting this information. For full information on the underlying data and calculations for the information presented here, please see the associated cost-benefit analysis (Ecology Publication Number 11-02-003).
Allowing Private Businesses to Test Vehicles: Ecology is proposing that all testers must use ecology approved on-line testing equipment.
Self-testing private fleets are currently purchasing test forms from ecology for $15.00 each. The test form will no longer be necessary or available from ecology. Ecology intends for the test charges for these fleets will not exceed the current $15.00.
However, private businesses who choose to become testers will now incur new costs. Private businesses are allowed, by law, to charge whatever test fee they want, unlike the state contractor who must charge no more than $15.00 per test. For this analysis, it does not matter what price a private business charges because it will simply be a cost transfer from vehicle owner to vehicle tester.
Ecology based its assumptions on the number of vehicles that may be tested at a private inspection business on the current hybrid program in New Jersey. New Jersey's hybrid program is closest to the program Washington is creating. A hybrid program combines centralized and decentralized testing systems. A centralized system has the state or a state contractor do the tests. A decentralized system has testing done by many independently owned private businesses that may do other business at the testing locations. In New Jersey there is no test fee collected at the centralized test stations. The long wait times at these stations prompted the state to subsidize private business testing. In 2007, there were one thousand three hundred twenty-seven private inspection facilities in New Jersey with about twenty percent of vehicle inspections being done at these facilities.
It is impossible to know the extent other businesses will be interested in becoming testers. Ecology assumed since there will be no subsidy in Washington and the declining number of vehicles needing testing in the future, there will be less interest in private inspection facilities than in New Jersey. Therefore, ecology assumed only ten percent of the tests will be at a private testing facility. Table 1 below shows the declining number of vehicles expected to be tested by private businesses each year with the associated costs.
Tested by Private Businesses 2012-2019
| Testing Year | Percentage of Remaining Vehicles | Number of Vehicles | Cost Per Year1 | Present Value | ||||
| 2012 | 100% | 50,000 | $750,000 | $750,077 | ||||
| 2013 | 100% | 100,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,476,239 | ||||
| 2014 | 88% | 88,000 | $1,319,000 | $1,277,079 | ||||
| 2015 | 88% | 88,000 | $1,319,000 | $1,256,720 | ||||
| 2016 | 70% | 70,000 | $1,052,000 | $986,142 | ||||
| 2017 | 70% | 70,000 | $1,052,000 | $970,421 | ||||
| 2018 | 54% | 54,000 | $815,000 | $740,407 | ||||
| 2019 | 54% | 54,000 | $815,000 | $728,603 | ||||
| Total Present Value | $8,185,690 | |||||||
Requiring Listed Repair Businesses to Have a Diagnostic OBD Scan Tool: Ecology is proposing a change that will require listed repair businesses to have an OBD scan tool with full diagnostic capabilities. The current rule only requires a scan tool; however, the proposed change specifies that the scan tool must have diagnostic capabilities (mode 1 through 9). Ecology believes most businesses already have this type of scan tool. To verify this, ecology conducted a phone survey and contacted fifty-three of its listed businesses to ask if their scan tools already had diagnostic abilities2. All fifty-three businesses answered yes. Of the fifty-three businesses surveyed, forty-five are small businesses with an average of eight employees and eight are large businesses with an average of ninety-seven employees.3 Therefore, ecology believes this change will not create any extra costs for the listed repair businesses or the businesses that wish to be listed.
Tightening Diesel Test Standards: Ecology is proposing to tighten the diesel snap-acceleration test standards for newer and older vehicles. Table 2 shows the change in standards for high-duty diesel vehicles.
Vehicles Over 8,500 Pounds GVWR
| Model Year | Current Opacity Standard | Proposed Opacity Standard |
| 1991 and older | 55% | 50% |
| 1992-1996 | 40% | 40% |
| 1997 and newer | 40% | 30% |
| Year | Number of Vehicles Tested | Number Failing at 55% Opacity | Number Failing at 50% Opacity | Change | Costs | Present Value | |||||
| Repair Costs | Time Costs | ||||||||||
| 2012 | 795 | 54 | 90 | 36 | $5,400 | $2,300 | $7,700 | ||||
| 2013 | 1,589 | 108 | 180 | 72 | $10,800 | $4,500 | $15,056 | ||||
| 2014 | 866 | 59 | 98 | 39 | $5,850 | $2,500 | $8,086 | ||||
| 2015 | 866 | 59 | 98 | 39 | $5,850 | $2,500 | $7,957 | ||||
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
| Total Present Value | $38,799 | ||||||||||
| Proposed Change | Cost |
| New Authorized Testers | $8,185,690 |
| Requiring an OBD Scan Tool | $0 |
| Diesel Snap-Accelerations Test | $1,344,739 |
| Total | $9,530,429 |
Based on data from the 2007 and 2008 data reports to EPA there are about 120,000 gasoline vehicles being tested annually that are ages seventeen through twenty-five. In 2012, vehicles made in 1995 will be seventeen years old. Table 5 shows the number of LDGV each year that ecology estimates will benefit from the standardized testing in the remaining 7.5 years of the program. The estimate for 2012 is for the last six months of the year the new rule will be in effect.
Older LDGVs Tested Each Year
| Year | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| Vehicles | 60,288 | 110,128 | 66,501 | 59,640 | 32,755 | 28,098 | 11,063 | 8,386 |
Of Proposed Changes to LDGV
| Year | Vehicles Now Passing | Cost Savings Per Year (# of Vehicles x $150) |
Time Savings | Present Value Cost Savings Per Year | ||||
| 2012 | 2,737 | $410,550 | $172,400 | $582,950 | ||||
| 2013 | 5,000 | $750,000 | $315,000 | $1,048,022 | ||||
| 2014 | 3,019 | $452,850 | $190,200 | $622,711 | ||||
| 2015 | 2,708 | $406,200 | $170,600 | $549,652 | ||||
| 2016 | 1,487 | $223,050 | $93,700 | $297,030 | ||||
| 2017 | 1,276 | $191,400 | $80,400 | $250,815 | ||||
| 2018 | 502 | $75,300 | $31,600 | $97,074 | ||||
| 2019 | 381 | $57,150 | $24,000 | $72,516 | ||||
| Total Present Value | 17,109 | $2,566,350 | $1,077,900 | $3,520,750 | ||||
Discontinue Gas Cap Checks: Ecology is proposing to stop gas cap leak tests. After 2012 most LDGVs will receive an OBD test which may detect a leaking gas cap. In 2006 - 2008, on average six thousand vehicles per year failed the gas cap test but passed the OBD test and were still required to purchase a new gas cap. Before the 2000 model year vehicles, the OBD test was often not as effective in detecting leaking gas caps as testing the caps was. After July 2012, eliminating the gas cap test is expected to result in a minimum increase in evaporative emissions. A gas cap can cost $5.00 - $21.005 with an average of $13.00. Therefore, ecology assumes the first two years will each have an average of $13.00 savings for at least these six thousand vehicles. Ecology also assumes a cost savings of two hours for repairs and retesting at an average wage rate of $31.50 per hour. Table 7 shows the decline in vehicles and using a 1.62 percent rate the total present value savings of $2.5 million.
| Testing Year | Percentage of Remaining Vehicles | Number of Vehicles | Savings on Cap | Time Savings | Present Value | |||||
| 2012 | 100% | 3,000 | $39,000 | $189,000 | $228,000 | |||||
| 2013 | 100% | 6,000 | $78,000 | $378,000 | $448,731 | |||||
| 2014 | 83% | 5,340 | $69,420 | $336,420 | $393,004 | |||||
| 2015 | 83% | 5,340 | $69,420 | $336,420 | $386,738 | |||||
| 2016 | 65% | 4,260 | $55,380 | $268,380 | $303,603 | |||||
| 2017 | 65% | 4,260 | $55,380 | $268,380 | $298,763 | |||||
| 2018 | 49% | 3,300 | $42,900 | $207,900 | $227,747 | |||||
| 2019 | 49% | 3,300 | $42,900 | $207,900 | $224,116 | |||||
| Total Present Value | $2,510,702 | |||||||||
Using the average of the overall wages in the five counties where emission testing is required, ecology estimates a time savings of $31.50 per hour. Table 8 shows the number of vehicles each year ecology expects to be tested using a private business and the value of the time saved.
For Emissions Inspections
| Testing Year | Percentage of Remaining Vehicles | Number of Vehicles | Savings Per Year (millions)6 | Present Value (millions) |
||||
| 2012 | 100% | 50,000 | $788,000 | $787,581 | ||||
| 2013 | 100% | 100,000 | $1,575,000 | $1,550,051 | ||||
| 2014 | 88% | 88,000 | $1,386,000 | $1,342,300 | ||||
| 2015 | 88% | 88,000 | $1,386,000 | $1,320,901 | ||||
| 2016 | 70% | 70,000 | $1,103,000 | $1,033,967 | ||||
| 2017 | 70% | 70,000 | $1,103,000 | $1,017,484 | ||||
| 2018 | 54% | 54,000 | $850,000 | $772,403 | ||||
| 2019 | 54% | 54,000 | $850,000 | $760,089 | ||||
| Total Present Value | $8,584,776 | |||||||
Discontinue Testing of Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles: Ecology is proposing to stop testing light-duty diesel vehicles. There are so few of these vehicles and the preferred dynamometer test for these vehicles will no longer be available. Also, EPA doesn't recognize the benefit of testing these vehicles. There are about six thousand light-duty diesel vehicles in the testing areas; ecology assumes about three thousand would have been tested annually7. Table 9 shows the decrease in the number of vehicles over time as 2009 and newer models are exempted. The 1.62 percent treasury bills rate is used. Each vehicle will have a savings of the $15 charged for the test and an hour of cost savings for not having to get the test. The wage rate used is $31.50 per hour.
Testing Year |
Percentage of Remaining Vehicles |
Number of Vehicles |
Cost Savings | Present Value | ||||||
| Savings for Test | Time Savings | |||||||||
| 2012 | 100% | 1,500 | $22,500 | $47,300 | $69,800 | |||||
| 2013 | 100% | 3,000 | $45,000 | $94,500 | $137,276 | |||||
| 2014 | 89% | 2,670 | $40,050 | $84,100 | $120,223 | |||||
| 2015 | 89% | 2,670 | $40,050 | $84,100 | $118,307 | |||||
| 2016 | 71% | 2,130 | $31,950 | $67,100 | $92,883 | |||||
| 2017 | 71% | 2,130 | $31,950 | $67,100 | $91,403 | |||||
| 2018 | 55% | 1,650 | $24,750 | $52,000 | $69,695 | |||||
| 2019 | 55% | 1,650 | $24,750 | $52,000 | $68,584 | |||||
| Total Present Value | $768,171 | |||||||||
Exempt 2007-2008 model year high-duty diesel vehicles.
Ecology is proposing to exempt high-duty diesel vehicles with an engine that was certified by its manufacturer as meeting the EPA 2007 exhaust emission standards. This exemption will only benefit 2007 and 2008 diesel vehicles because the 2009 and newer models will already be exempt by law. Based on a snapshot of the current number of diesel vehicles in the five counties8, ecology was able to extrapolate how many diesel vehicles there will be in each year from 2012-2019. Table 10 shows the number of 2007 and 2008 vehicles each year that will be exempt. Table 10 also shows the cost savings based on avoiding the $15 charge for a test and the time saved by not having to get the vehicles tested. Ecology assumes it will save one hour of time at a labor cost of $31.50 an hour.
| Testing Year | Number of Vehicles | Cost Savings | Present Value | |||||
| Savings for Test | Time Savings | |||||||
| 2012 | 4,100 | $61,500 | $128,900 | $190,400 | ||||
| 2013 | 8,200 | $123,000 | $257,800 | $374,729 | ||||
| 2014 | 5,800 | $87,000 | $184,200 | $262,622 | ||||
| 2015 | 5,800 | $87,000 | $184,200 | $258,435 | ||||
| 2016 | 6,400 | $96,000 | $200,500 | $278,040 | ||||
| 2017 | 6,400 | $96,000 | $200,500 | $273,608 | ||||
| 2018 | 6,100 | $91,500 | $192,900 | $258,258 | ||||
| 2019 | 6,100 | $91,500 | $192,900 | $254,141 | ||||
| Total Present Value | $2,150,235 | |||||||
Removing the requirement for listed repair businesses to have an exhaust analyzer.
Ecology is proposing to remove the requirement for listed repair businesses to have an exhaust analyzer. Ecology believes that because of the declining number of vehicles failing an exhaust emission test, repair businesses should no longer be required to have an exhaust analyzer. Ecology surveyed repair businesses to estimate the cost savings for not requiring an exhaust analyzer. Ecology contacted fifty small businesses and ten large businesses. We got an overall response rate of seventy-seven percent with responses from forty-one small businesses and five large businesses. Three of the small businesses reported they couldn't answer any of the questions and those responses were thrown out, leaving thirty-eight small businesses with data. The small businesses averaged eight employees and the large businesses average one hundred thirty-five.
An exhaust analyzer can cost thousands of dollars and most repair businesses invested in these analyzers many years ago. On average, small business reported that their previous exhaust analyzer or their expectation of how long their current analyzer will last is twelve years; large businesses estimated fourteen years. A few businesses even said they expected to use their analyzer forever since they are currently using it so infrequently and would not want to buy a new one. Therefore, ecology estimated the cost savings for avoiding maintenance and calibration gas costs. Small businesses report a combined average of $320 per year and large businesses estimated $375 per year. There are currently about six hundred twenty small repair businesses and sixty large businesses. Table 11 shows the cost savings for eliminating the requirement to have an exhaust analyzer.
Repair Businesses to Have Exhaust Analyzers
| Small | Large | |
| Number of Businesses | 620 | 60 |
| Annual Cost of Maintenance and Calibration Gas | $320 | $375 |
| Total Annual Cost Savings | $198,400 | $22,500 |
| Total Present Value (PV) Cost Savings | $1,402,208 | $159,021 |
| Total Small and Large PV Cost Savings | $1,561,229 | |
Total Cost Savings: As the authorizing statute allows businesses in the newly created industry to pass charges on to consumers, and the consumer action of testing is required under the law and rule, ecology believes the proposed rule will not reduce business or revenues for participating businesses. As such, ecology expects the proposed rule to increase revenue opportunities and create cost savings for small businesses, rather than impose costs.
Therefore, ecology has not prepared a complete SBEIS, but has summarized the net benefit opportunity to businesses, as created by the proposed rule.
| Proposed Change | Cost Savings |
| Eliminating Dynamometers and Standardizing 1995 and Older Test Standards | $3,520,750 |
| No Gas Cap Check | $2,510,702 |
| Convenience of Using a Private Testing Business | $8,584,776 |
| Exempting Light-Duty Diesel Vehicles | $768,171 |
| Exempting 2007-2008 High-Duty Diesel Vehicles | $2,150,235 |
| Eliminating Exhaust Analyzers | $1,561,229 |
| Total Cost Savings | $19,095,863 |
| 1Cost per year = (number of vehicles) x ($15.00 collected by the contractor). | |
| 2Businesses were contacted on October 7 and 14, 2009. | |
| 3This is the best information currently available to ecology. As always, we welcome new information that will further improve our analyses. | |
| 42009 Occupational employment and wage estimates - Washington state metropolitan and balance of state areas. Washington state employment security department, http://www.workforceexplorer.com/admin/uploadedPublications/9766_Web_Databook2009.pdf. | |
| 5Autozone.com. | |
| 6Cost per year = (Number of vehicles) x ($31.50/hour) x (.5 hours). | |
| 7In 2012 only vehicles tested after July when the new rule goes into effect will be exempt; therefore ecology estimates half the total number of vehicles for 2012. | |
| 8Washington state department of licensing January 5, 2010. |
A copy of the statement may be obtained by contacting Kasia Patora, Department of Ecology, Rules and Accountability Section, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, phone (360) 407-6184, fax (360) 407-6989, e-mail kasia.patora@ecy.wa.gov.
A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Kasia Patora, Department of Ecology, Rules and Accountability Section, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, phone (360) 407-6184, fax (360) 407-6989, e-mail kasia.patora@ecy.wa.gov.
February 15, 2011
Polly Zehm
Deputy Director
OTS-2639.4
MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSION INSPECTION
[]
"Appropriate repair" means the diagnosis or repair of the cause(s) of an emission test failure.
"Authorized tester" means a vehicle owner or business authorized by ecology to conduct testing other than ecology's contractor.
"Ecology" means the department of ecology.
"OBD" means the standardized on-board diagnostic system required to be installed on all 1996 and newer model year gasoline cars and light trucks sold in the United States. This system monitors the operation of the vehicle's emission control systems to detect possible problems. If problems are found a check engine light alerts the driver and trouble codes are stored to help an automotive repair technician diagnose the problem.
"On-line" means to electronically communicate during the emission test as directed by ecology.
"Waiver" is an exemption from further testing for twelve months when all the following conditions apply:
(a) The vehicle failed an emission test;
(b) The vehicle failed a retest or is unable to be retested;
(c) All primary emission control components (or appropriate replacements) are installed and operative;
(d) An ecology authorized emission specialist has performed at least one hundred fifty dollars of appropriate repairs;
(e) The appropriate repairs were performed between the initial and last test; and
(f) Ecology or its designee has received original receipts listing and providing the cost of each appropriate diagnosis or repair of the cause(s) of an emission test failure.
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| Testing Schedule for Private and United States Government Vehicles | |
| Year License Expires | Model Years |
| 2012 | 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 |
| 2013 | 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 |
| 2014 | 1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 |
| 2015 | 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 |
| 2016 | 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 |
| 2017 | 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 |
| 2018 | 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 |
| 2019 | 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 |
[]
| Testing Schedule for State and Local Government Vehicles | |
| Year | Model Years |
| 2012 | 1987 through 2007 |
| 2013 | 1988 through 2008 |
| 2014 | 1989 through 2008 |
| 2015 | 1990 through 2008 |
| 2016 | 1991 through 2008 |
| 2017 | 1992 through 2008 |
| 2018 | 1993 through 2008 |
| 2019 | 1994 through 2008 |
[]
| Puget Sound Region | |
| 98001-98009 | 98201-98208 |
| 98011 | 98258 |
| 98012 | 98270 |
| 98015 | 98271 |
| 98020 | 98275 |
| 98021 | 98290 |
| 98023 | 98291 |
| 98025-98028 | 98327 |
| 98031-98043 | 98332 |
| 98046 | 98335 |
| 98047 | 98338 |
| 98052-98059 | 98344 |
| 98062-98064 | 98352 |
| 98071-98073 | 98354 |
| 98083 | 98371-98374 |
| 98092 | 98387 |
| 90893 | 98388 |
| 98101-98109 | 98390 |
| 98111-98199 | 98401-98499 |
| Spokane Region | |
| 99001 | 99021 |
| 99005 | 99025 |
| 99014 | 99027 |
| 99016 | 99037 |
| 99019 | 99201-99209 |
| Vancouver Region |
| 98604 except north of N.E. 279th Street |
| 98606 |
| 98607 |
| 98629 except east of N.E. 50th Avenue |
| 98642 |
| 98660-98668 |
| 98671 except Skamania County |
| 98682-98686 |
[]
(1) Newer vehicles. Vehicles less than five years old and 2009 or newer model year vehicles.
(2) Older vehicles. Vehicles more than twenty-five years old.
(3) Motorcycles and mopeds as defined in chapter 46.04 RCW.
(4) Prorated vehicles as defined in chapter 46.85 RCW.
(5) Vehicles garaged and operated outside a test area.
(6) Farm vehicles as defined in chapter 46.04 RCW.
(7) Vehicles not intended for highway use.
(8) Vehicles registered as powered by electricity, propane, compressed natural gas, or liquid petroleum gas.
(9) Honda Insight and Toyota Prius model vehicles.
(10) Diesel powered vehicles weighing less than 6001 pounds or with an engine that was certified by its manufacturer as meeting the EPA 2007 exhaust emission standards or equipped with an exhaust particle filter acceptable to ecology.
(11) Vehicles being sold or being offered for sale by a Washington licensed motor vehicle dealer.
(12) An emission test is not required to transfer the registered ownership between parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, spouses, legal domestic partners, or present co-owners or to a public agency and for all changes of the legal owner.
[]
(1) Two-speed idle exhaust emission test standards:
| Model Year | Carbon Monoxide (CO) (%) | Hydrocarbons (HC) (ppm) |
| 1995 and older | 3.0 | 400 |
| 1996-2008 (8500 or less GVWR) | 1.2 | 220 |
| 1996-2008 (greater than 8500 GVWR) | 3.0 | 400 |
(a) The check engine light must not be commanded on while the engine is operating.
(b) The emission related monitors must have completed their checks and be ready to report potential problems, except:
(i) A 2001 or newer model year vehicle may have one monitor not ready to report.
(ii) A 2000 or older model year vehicle may have up to two monitors not ready to report.
(c) For the vehicle to pass a retest, the monitor(s) that commanded the check engine light on during the initial test must be ready to report.
[]
(a) Connect the OBD testing equipment to determine what diagnostic codes may be commanding the check engine light on and whether each emission related monitor is ready to report; or
(b) Follow the two-speed idle exhaust emission testing procedures described in Appendix B-Test Procedures of Subpart S-Inspection/Maintenance Program Requirements of Part 51 of chapter 1, Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations adopted November 1, 1992.
(2) Ecology may require variations to the testing procedures to accommodate the design of certain vehicles.
[]
(2) OBD testing equipment must be capable of:
(a) Communicating with all OBD systems used on 1996 through 2008 model year gasoline vehicles approved to be sold in the United States;
(b) Recording the readiness status of each emission-related OBD monitor; and
(c) Recording the diagnostic trouble code(s) that could command the check engine light on.
(3) The testing equipment must be able to perform the test on-line unless ecology grants prior approval.
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| Model Year | Opacity (%) |
| 1991 and older | 50 |
| 1992-1996 | 40 |
| 1997-2008 | 30 |
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(a) The engine is within its normal operating temperature range;
(b) All vehicle accessories including air conditioning are off;
(c) The parking brake and an engine brake or retarder is off; and
(d) The transmission is in neutral (and clutch released if manual transmission).
(2) During the snap-acceleration test the tester shall do all of the following:
(a) Perform at least three preliminary snap-accelerations until the engine achieves consistent operation.
(i) A snap-acceleration consists of moving the accelerator pedal from normal idle as rapidly as possible to the full power position, then fully releasing the throttle so the engine returns to idle. Allow the engine to remain at idle for at least ten seconds between snap-accelerations.
(ii) Insert the opacity meter into an exhaust pipe.
(b) Perform additional snap-accelerations while measuring the smoke opacity.
(i) The tester must either begin a subsequent snap-acceleration within forty-five seconds or restart the test without removing the opacity meter.
(ii) The tester need not repeat the three preliminary snap-accelerations.
(c) Perform snap-accelerations (up to nine times if necessary) to obtain three consecutive peak opacity readings that meet ecology's standards. If this does not occur, the vehicle fails the test. Record the three final opacity readings.
(d) If the vehicle passes the first series of snap-accelerations, repeat these procedures for each additional exhaust pipe.
(3) Ecology may require variations to the testing procedures to accommodate the design of certain vehicles.
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(a) Automatically recalibrates before each test.
(b) Provides for continuous measurement of exhaust opacity unaffected by rain or wind.
(2) The testing equipment must be able to perform the test on-line unless ecology grants prior approval.
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(a) Calibrate and maintain all test equipment according to the manufacturer's specifications and recommendations.
(b) Maintain logs approved by ecology of maintenance, repair, and calibration of testing equipment.
(c) Use, for exhaust gas analyzer calibration, the procedures in the following document: (I) Steady-State Test Equipment of Appendix A-Calibrations, Adjustments and Quality Control of Subpart S-Inspection/Maintenance Program Requirements of Part 51 of chapter 1, Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations adopted November 1, 1992.
(2) Ecology may require additional maintenance and calibration procedures if they are needed to ensure the accuracy of the testing equipment.
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(1) Monitor (remotely or on location) ecology's contractor and authorized testers' operations.
(2) Access the testing/reporting equipment and records.
(3) Stop or limit emission testing due to this monitoring.
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(2) Authorized testers may set their own fees.
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(a) Use ecology approved testing equipment. The test must be done on-line unless ecology grants prior approval.
(b) Follow the testing procedure described in section 110 for gasoline vehicles and section 210 for diesel vehicles.
(c) As directed by ecology, provide information to vehicle owners and obtain their approval for emission-related repairs.
(d) Properly maintain testing equipment.
(e) Maintain logs approved by ecology of maintenance, repair, and calibration of testing equipment.
(f) Allow ecology to conduct performance audits and compliance inspections.
(g) Take corrective actions required by ecology.
(2) Violations of this rule by an authorized tester will result in their authorization being permanently or temporarily revoked unless it is the first lesser rule violation such as an administrative or recordkeeping error.
(a) For the first lesser rule violation, the authorized tester will receive a written warning that further rule violations of this type will result in their authorization being temporarily revoked for thirty to ninety days.
(b) For the first major, deliberate rule violation, such as fraudulent testing or reporting, their authorization will be temporarily revoked for six months.
(c) A second major violation will result in their authorization being permanently revoked.
(d) Reauthorization of a temporarily revoked authorization requires a new application for authorization.
(3) Notifications of violations will be documented in writing.
(4) An authorized tester whose authorization has been revoked may appeal this decision to the pollution control hearings board as provided for in RCW 43.21B.310.
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(a) Successfully complete an ecology-approved course on emission repair every two years.
(b) Agree in writing to meet all requirements of this rule and all Washington state and federal laws and regulations regarding emission control systems.
(2) To maintain authorization, an authorized emission specialist shall:
(a) Complete required training within ninety days of notification by ecology. Ecology may grant written extensions;
(b) Sign and include their specialist identification number on all receipts for appropriate diagnoses and repairs of vehicles that have failed an emission test. These receipts must:
(i) Be numbered and printed with the business's name and address;
(ii) Include the customer's name, telephone number, and address;
(iii) Include the vehicle's make, model, license number and vehicle identification number (VIN);
(iv) Itemize all appropriate diagnoses and repairs performed by the specialist;
(v) Include any missing or inoperative primary emission control components; and
(vi) Include any further recommended appropriate repairs and diagnoses.
(3) To maintain authorization, an authorized emission specialist may not:
(a) Tamper with emission control systems (a violation of chapter 173-421 WAC), including adjusting an engine outside of the manufacturer's specifications; or
(b) Obtain or attempt to obtain a passing test, waiver, or an exemption from the test requirements by providing false information or by any other fraudulent means that violate this rule; or
(c) Assist any individual in committing a violation of this rule or chapter 173-421 WAC.
(4) Violations of this rule by an authorized emission specialist will result in their authorization being permanently or temporarily revoked unless it is the first lesser rule violation such as an administrative or recordkeeping error.
(a) For the first lesser rule violation, the authorized emission specialist will receive a written warning that further rule violations of this type will result in their authorization being temporarily revoked for thirty to ninety days.
(b) For the first major, deliberate rule violation, such as fraudulent testing or reporting, their authorization will be temporarily revoked for six months.
(c) A second major violation will result in their authorization being permanently revoked.
(d) Reauthorization of a temporarily revoked authorization requires a new application for authorization.
(5) Notifications of violations will be documented in writing.
(6) An authorized emission specialist whose authorization is revoked may appeal to the pollution control hearings board as provided for in RCW 43.21B.310.
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(2) Ecology will include the business's name, address and telephone number on the list when the business agrees in writing to require all of the following:
(a) The authorized emission specialist use an ecology-approved OBD scan tool to diagnose an emission test failure of a 1996 or newer gasoline vehicle equipped with an OBD system. For an OBD scan tool to be approved by ecology it will need:
(i) To provide mode 1 through mode 9 diagnostic data requests.
(ii) Support all communication protocols used by the vehicle manufacturers for 1996 through 2008 model year gasoline vehicles sold in the United States.
(b) That the diagnosis of the cause(s) of an emission tests failure and the repairs or adjustments to correct the cause(s) of an emission test failure are performed by an authorized emission specialist.
(c) That the authorized emission specialist:
(i) Sign the customer's receipt for emission repairs or adjustments; and
(ii) List on the receipt, the emission diagnosis or repairs done and those that are still needed.
(d) All employees not to tamper or assist anyone in tampering with emission control systems, including adjusting a vehicle outside the manufacturer's specifications.
(e) All employees to obtain or assist anyone in obtaining a fraudulent passing test, waiver, or an exemption from the test requirement.
(f) Notification of ecology when an authorized emission specialist begins or ends employment.
(3) When a business no longer meets the requirements for listing, it must discontinue any representation of listing immediately.
(4) Violations of this rule by a listed business will result in their listing being permanently or temporarily revoked unless it is the first lesser rule violation such as an administrative or recordkeeping error.
(a) For the first lesser rule violation, the listed business will receive a written warning that further rule violations of this type will result in their listing being temporarily revoked for thirty to ninety days.
(b) For the first major, deliberate rule violation, such as fraudulent testing or reporting, their listing will be temporarily revoked for six months.
(c) A second major violation will result in their listing being permanently revoked.
(d) Relisting of a temporarily revoked listing requires a new application for listing.
(5) Notifications of violations will be documented in writing.
(6) A business whose listing has been revoked may be appealed to the pollution control hearings board as provided for in RCW 43.21B.310.
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