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CARB to Conduct Public Hearing to Consider Exemption of Add-On and Modified Parts for On-Road Vehicles/Engines

By SEMA Editors

CARB

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will conduct a remote public hearing, July 23, at 9:00 a.m., and July 24, at 8:30 a.m., to consider approving for adoption the proposed Procedures for the Exemption of Add-On and Modified Part(s) for On Road Vehicles/Engines.

View the meeting’s public agenda.

CARB staff is proposing amendments to replace the “Procedures for Exemption of Add‑On and Modified Parts,” which was adopted November 4, 1977, and amended May 19, 1981, and June 1, 1990. The “Procedures for Exemption of Add-On and Modified Parts” provides a pathway for aftermarket parts manufacturers to receive an exemption from the prohibitions of section 27156 of the California Vehicle Code (VC) for add-on and modified parts or other modifications that affect emissions.

The “Procedures for Exemption of Add-On and Modified Parts,” last amended June 1, 1990, provide staff the tools to work with aftermarket parts manufacturers in the daily processing of submitted exemption applications; however, there have been many changes in the design of new vehicles and engines since 1990. Accordingly, staff is proposing new “Procedures for the Exemption of Add-On and Modified Part(s) for On‑Road Vehicles/Engines” (procedures) to improve the exemption process in light of these changes.

The new procedures will clarify and streamline the processes associated with a VC section 27156 exemption. They will facilitate compliance by making the process easier for manufacturers to submit applications, conduct necessary testing and receive exemptions, potentially resulting in some cost savings on a per-application basis. However, the new procedures may increase the total number of applications required by an aftermarket parts manufacturer to cover its whole product line, possibly resulting in no cost savings for the manufacturer overall. Notwithstanding, faster turnaround on staff review and approval is expected to result from use of the new procedures, providing a pathway for manufacturers to bring products to market faster.

Inquiries concerning the substance of the proposed procedures may be directed to the agency representative Mr. Richard Muradliyan, Air Resources Engineer, at 626-575-6798 or Ms. Jackie Lourenco, Branch Chief, at 626-450-6152.

The Notice of Public Hearing, ISOR and all subsequent regulatory documents are available on CARB's Rulemaking webpage.

Interested members of the public may present comments orally or in writing at the hearing and may provide comments by postal mail or by electronic submittal before the hearing. The public comment period for this regulatory action will begin June 5. Written comments not physically submitted at the hearing must be submitted on or after June 5, and received no later than July 20. Comments submitted outside that comment period are considered untimely. CARB may, but is not required to, respond to untimely comments, including those raising significant environmental issues. CARB requests that when possible written and email statements be filed at least 10 days before the hearing to give CARB staff and board members additional time to consider each comment. The board also encourages members of the public to bring to the attention of staff in advance of the hearing any suggestions for modification of the proposed regulatory action. Comments submitted in advance of the hearing must be addressed either online or to the following:

Clerks’ Office, California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, California 95814