SB 72 - This act modifies the motor vehicle emission inspection program for the greater St. Louis metropolitan area. The inspections were mandated in SB 590, from 1994, but have not been implemented. SB 590 requires the Department of Natural Resources to contract with a person or persons for vehicle emission inspections and such persons are prohibited from performing any other work at the inspection station, such as vehicle repair.

This act allows the Department to license inspection stations and these stations are prohibited from performing other services. The act provides that the license shall be for a period of up to seven years, and licenses shall be annually reviewed. A license may be suspended or revoked if the licensee is not meeting the conditions of applicable law, rules, the license contract or the license agreement. A licensee found to have violated applicable law, rules or the conditions of the license contract or license agreement shall be in violation of section 643.151, RSMO, and subject to the civil penalties under the Missouri air law.

Inspectors and emission repair technicians must be certified by the Air Conservation Commission.

SB 590 delayed the implementation of new vehicle testing procedures until after termination of a suit filed by the State of Missouri against the Environmental Protection Agency contesting the constitutionality of the sanctions contained in the federal Clean Air Act. The act does not change this provision of SB 590.

The act requires the Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Highway Patrol to enter into an interagency agreement covering all aspects of the administration and enforcement of the current BAR90 emissions inspection and any enhanced emissions inspection implemented under Chapter 643, RSMo.

The Air Emission Reduction Fund shall be used for administration and enforcement of I/M 240 by the Department, the Highway Patrol and other agencies.

Currently, the Missouri Air Conservation Commission is prohibited from establishing an enhanced I/M program under chapter 643 in any area where the Governor has "opted-in" to require reformulated gas (RFG) in that same area. The act provides that enhanced I/M may not be established or operated in areas with RFG.

Rules promulgated by the Missouri Air Conservation Commission on or after the effective date of the act shall terminate after eighteen months or on an earlier date specified in the order of rulemaking.

The unincorporated portion of any first class, non-charter county with a population of at least eighty thousand persons shall be exempt from the state open burning restriction rule until such county reaches a population of at least one hundred thousand persons.

The act restricts establishment of the enhanced emissions inspection program to the urbanized portion of the St. Louis nonattainment area, as determined by the local metropolitan planning organization.

This act is similar to SB 669 from 1996.

The act contains penalty provisions.

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