Contact:	Caroline Fuller (202) 543-1440 c.fuller@att.net
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin PR-38 Oct. 20, 2006

EPA Inspector General Releases Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance Program Report

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 20, 2006 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Inspector General Bill A. Roderick has released an evaluation report that says the EPA's vehicle inspection and maintenance program "needs improvement." Roderick's office conducted a review of the EPA program to determine if inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs are effective. I/M programs are used to identify poorly performing vehicles to ensure that vehicles are repaired properly, and to help reduce harmful emissions.

The Inspector General focused the review in Region 3, the Mid-Atlantic region that covers Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Findings revealed that the EPA had not ensured that these states had fully met their I/M requirements. Out of five I/M programs in Region 3, four reported that 12 percent to 22 percent of vehicles failed their I/M inspections. The fifth program has used less rigorous guidelines for testing than required.

Covering all 10 EPA regions and 34 I/M programs, the Inspector General's review shows the EPA "has not been obtaining sufficient information to ensure that states are meeting their I/M program commitments."

The office of the Inspector General is recommending that the EPA "obtain and evaluate all required I/M reports to ensure that the programs are operating effectively." The review also recommends that the EPA provide more assistance and guidelines for states and state I/M programs.

"The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has been frustrated for some time with the EPA's lack of emphasis on expanding geographically or improving existing I/M programs, to the point ASA flew its top leaders to Washington to express this to EPA officials," said Bob Redding, ASA's Washington, D.C., representative. "In the 1990s, some aftermarket groups opposed these programs and hurt the emissions testing effort, but that has not been the case in recent years. These programs continue to be threatened in some states and suffer generally from a lack of promotion from the EPA. ASA supports a mandatory federal emissions vehicle inspection program. Clearly the problem will not be resolved by the EPA without congressional intervention."

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind serving an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from all segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.asashop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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