Ecology adopts changes to air quality fees, 'clean cars' standards

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has adopted changes to three rules that guide the agency’s air quality work and affect your pocket book.

The rule changes are related to fees Ecology charges for certain kinds of air quality work, required updates to the state’s “clean car” standards and revisions to the general air quality regulations.

Air quality fees

Ecology charges fees to fund the program that registers and inspects certain small- and medium-sized businesses that emit air pollution. Ecology has shifted the cost of funding the registration program away from general taxpayer dollars to fees charged to program users.

Starting Jan. 1, 2013, Ecology will change from a single-tier fee of $400 to three tiers ($450, $700, $1,000), based on how much pollution each source emits.

Also, in the 18 counties where Ecology regulates air quality, the agency will reactivate a gasoline vapor recovery inspection program as of July 1. The proposal calls for facilities that dispense gasoline (mainly gas stations) to pay a yearly fee to fund the inspection program.

“Clean cars” update

Washington’s clean cars regulation requires many new vehicles to meet California’s standards to be registered for use in Washington.

The standards apply to 2009 and newer model year passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles (such as most vans and SUVs).

Chapter 173-400 WAC

Ecology amended this rule so Washington can gain federal approval for its new source review and prevention of significant deterioration permitting programs in the State Implementation Plan (SIP).

The SIP is a complex collection of documents that describes how the state implements, maintains, and enforces National Ambient Air Quality Standards for specific air pollutants. Those pollutants are ozone, lead, fine particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter.

The rule revisions take effect Dec. 29. Once they do, Ecology will develop a SIP submittal package for the public to review and comment before submitting the rule to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).