Taking The Hill
OBD Information Availability
At a press conference hosted by the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the automotive aftermarket announced the implementation of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations giving independent repair facilities access to on-board diagnostic (OBD) and emissions-related information. The regulations took effect Dec. 7, 1995. In its final ruling, the agency stipulated that "manufacturers are required to make available to the aftermarket any and all information needed to make use of the OBD system and to make emission-related repairs, excluding trade secrets." Manufacturers are also responsible for up-loading a complete index of the required information on the National Technical Information Service known as FedWorld. Carmakers will also put in place a service information distribution system that will allow service information orders to be processed and mailed within one business day.Small Business Tax Relief
The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has endorsed an open letter to the president and Congress from the small business community requesting initiatives to provide needed tax relief for small businesses. Tax relief measures are included in the legislation that has been sent to President Clinton to balance the budget. Among the small business tax relief provisions is one to increase expensing. This provision would raise the current limit from $17,500 to $25,000 phased in over seven years fueling the economy by allowing increased equipment purchases without the need for complex depreciation schedules. Other requests included increased health care deductions for the self-employed, estate tax relief and pension reform.Antifreeze Recycling
In a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Solid Waste, the Antifreeze Coalition urged the agency to take steps that would encourage the recycling of spent antifreeze by eliminating regulatory impediments. As it stands, small businesses in the automotive service sector risk enforcement action if they do not either assume that some or all spent antifreeze is hazardous waste or spend unjustified resources on toxicity analysis. The coalition maintains that regulatory relief from the unnecessary burdens of hazardous waste regulation is critical to encourage increased antifreeze recycling and is justified by the low hazard potential of spent antifreeze. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) is an active member of the coalition.Inspection Companies Association
The providers and suppliers of the contracted, test-only vehicle inspection industry announced the formation of the Association of Vehicle Inspection Companies (AVIC). According to AVIC, the association was created to provide information to help educate the public, state officials, political leaders and others on the benefits of test-only, contractor-operated vehicle inspection programs. AVIC Executive Director Jim Caffey said, "Our objective is to set the record straight and provide an accurate picture of the test-only, contractor-administered inspection programs." The association is based in Washington, D.C.
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AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLIV No. 2, February 1996