Cleaner Air the Goal of Customer-Focused Emissions Program in Pennsylvania
30 September 1997
Cleaner Air the Goal of Customer-Focused Emissions Program in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 30 -- Pennsylvania takes the next
step toward cleaner air tomorrow, when it begins its customer-focused,
Pennsylvania-designed Enhanced Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
(I/M) program in nine southeastern and southwestern counties.
With the I/M program, motorists will continue to take their cars, vans and
light-duty trucks to the participating service station, garage or dealer of
their choice for an emissions inspection. For convenience, the emissions
program is tied to the yearly safety inspection.
"This program was designed by Pennsylvanians for Pennsylvanians. AAA, the
service station industry and others helped make our program the most
customer-focused in the nation," Transportation Secretary Bradley L. Mallory
said.
"At the same time, motorists will be doing their part to help Pennsylvania
reduce emissions that contribute to ground-level ozone -- pollution that poses
a threat to our most vulnerable residents, especially children and the
elderly," said James M. Seif, secretary of the Department of Environmental
Protection.
Beginning tomorrow, the enhanced I/M program starts for gasoline-powered
cars, vans and light-duty trucks, model year 1975 or newer, in Philadelphia
and Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties in southeastern
Pennsylvania, and Allegheny, Beaver, Westmoreland and Washington counties in
southwestern Pennsylvania.
Vehicles driven fewer than 5,000 miles a year are exempt, as are new
vehicles never before titled and driven less than 5,000 miles. An exemption
sticker will be issued at an inspection station where mileage will be
verified.
Most vehicles will pass. Motorists whose vehicle don't pass, and who can
show they have spent at least $150 on emissions-related repairs, may be
eligible for a one-year waiver from making additional repairs required to pass
the inspection.
Motorcycles, street rods, and vehicles registered as classics,
collectibles or antiques are exempt from the test.
The cost for the emissions inspection will be market-driven, like the
current safety inspections.
AAA has already announced that beginning Nov. 1 it will do a monthly price
survey of service stations offering the emissions inspections in southeastern
and southwestern Pennsylvania and publish the average test fee.
The I/M program is the culmination of more than 18 months of work by the
departments of Transportation and Environmental Protection and AAA, service
stations, environmental groups and local officials. The Ridge administration
scrapped the federally mandated centralized program that was not
customer-focused and did not recognize Pennsylvania's long tradition of safety
inspections in which motorists take their vehicle for required repairs to the
service station or garage of their choice.
Pennsylvania is one of more than two dozen states with emissions programs
required by the federal government.
The service station and garage industry invested more than $55 million to
purchase the enhanced equipment required for the inspections.
"We have seen an overwhelming response by station owners and dealerships
who indicated their support by investing in the new analyzing equipment and
joining the enhanced program," Mallory said. "Their participation means
Pennsylvanians will have a competitive market to shop in, choosing the station
that they believe offers the best combination of price, convenience and
quality."
Over the last week, MCI, the I/M program manager, has been working with
manufacturers to install equipment, complete software and certify stations.
MCI, PennDOT and DEP mobilized teams of people to assist manufacturers in
software installation at as many stations as possible.
"We have worked hard and have had tremendous support from the equipment
manufacturers, PennDOT, DEP, the industry, and individual station operators to
ensure this program is off and running as we move through October," said Craig
J. Venet, executive program manager for MCI.
Stations will be coming on line quickly throughout October as anticipated
by the Commonwealth and MCI. Not every station will be up and running on
October 1 as they continue to take delivery of equipment and make final
electrical and telephone line installations. By the end of the month -- when
the vast majority of people typically get their inspections -- more than
2,000 stations will offer the enhanced inspections in southeastern and
southwestern Pennsylvania.
"Wide participation ensures competition and reasonable prices," Mallory
said.
PennDOT is notifying motorists in the nine counties about the enhanced
emissions inspections through a direct-mail flyer. About 250,000 to 300,000
motorists receive the flyer each month, about a week or so after they receive
their registration renewals.
To bolster their public information effort, PennDOT and DEP placed
full-page ads in the Sept. 28 editions of Sunday newspapers in the five-county
Philadelphia and four-county Pittsburgh areas.
"People who keep their cars well maintained should pass the enhanced
emissions inspection," Mallory said.
The secretary also noted that a properly maintained car runs more
efficiently and can save its owner money -- the equivalent of a free gallon of
gas for every 10 purchased.
The I/M program tests cars for excessive amounts of volatile organic
compounds and nitrogen oxides, key components of harmful ground-level ozone.
By the year 2005, the I/M program will help reduce pollutants by a projected
2.4 million pounds a day.
"The I/M program is one of the Commonwealth's many strategies to improve
air quality," Seif said. "Motor vehicles contribute about a third of the
pollutants that form ground-level ozone while an additional one-third comes
from industrial sources and one-third from other states. We have worked with
industry to help them do their share and we have moved aggressively to
petition the federal government to deal with pollution in other states."
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
