Code of Maine Rules
06 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
096 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - GENERAL
Chapter 146 - DIESEL-POWERED MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS STANDARDS
Section 096-146-5 - Inspection requirements and procedures

Universal Citation: 06 ME Code Rules ยง 096-146-5

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

A. The Department shall perform inspections of diesel-powered motor vehicles in conjunction with the Maine State Police. The purpose of such inspections shall be to determine whether such vehicles are in compliance with the emission opacity standards for diesel-powered motor vehicles.

B. The inspection of diesel-powered motor vehicles shall be performed by a certified inspector at a safety or weight inspection station, or at any other safe location agreed to by the Department and the Maine State Police.

C. Only diesel-powered motor vehicles identified by certified inspectors as potential violators of the program's emission opacity standards are subject to testing. Inspectors must be certified pursuant to the procedures for certification specified in 40 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 60, Appendix A, Method 9.

D. The inspection procedures for the emissions inspection of diesel-powered motor vehicles shall consist of the following steps:

(1) The vehicle's wheels are chocked for safety;

(2) The vehicle's exhaust system is checked for integrity;

(3) The inspector shall ensure ambient temperature at the test location is within the range of SAE J1667;

(4) The inspector shall determine if the governor is in working order by requesting this information from the driver. If a determination cannot be made, with the transmission in either neutral (with the clutch disengaged if so equipped) or park, the driver shall gradually increase engine speed. If the engine speed increases uncontrollably, the inspector shall instruct the operator to immediately release the accelerator pedal and the fuel supply to the engine. Emissions testing of any vehicle with a dysfunctional or out-of-specification engine speed governor shall be discontinued.

(5) A measurement of the vehicle's exhaust pipe is taken by a certified inspector;

(6) The test equipment is inserted into the vehicle's exhaust stack;

(7) The vehicle's brakes are disengaged to activate all emissions control equipment;

(8) The vehicle's transmission is placed in neutral;

(9) The vehicle's accelerator is rapidly depressed (snapped) and held at governed speed for several seconds, then returned to idle. This procedure is repeated according to manufacturer's instructions while the equipment measures the opacity of the smoke; and

(10) The operator will be given an inspection report documenting the final results of the diesel emissions inspection.

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