Date: 1981-07-30
Speaker: WALTER BARBER (democrat)
Chamber: S

Acting Administrator. Environmental Protection Agency.. Washington. D.-C. DEAR MR. BARBER: This is to request that the Environmental Protection Agency delay the requirement that a vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (i/in) program begin in 12 Pennsylvania counties on may 1. 1981. Such a delay should be granted until EPA can conclusively demonstrate that the i/in program will provide a costeffective means of reducing ambient levels of ozone and carbon monoxide In those Pennsylvania counties where is Is to be required. As you know. the National Commission on Air Quality will present its recommendsations for amendments to the Clean Air Act to Congress on March 1. A preliminary staff draft report of the Commission suggests possible modifications to the i/in requirement now contained In the Clear Air Act. including: Rlequiring I/M programs only in areas that cannot demonstrate attainment by 1985 or 1987. and Eliminating the requirement that j/m be mandatory In areas not attaining ambient ar quality standards. leaving It to State and local discretion to adopt i/in. Because congressional debate on amendments to the Clean Air Act will begin shortly after the Commissions report on March 1. 1 am now In the process of reviewing legislation that would make the i/rn program optional and allow It to be required only where It can be demonstrated to represent the most costeffective means of obtaining ambient air quality standards for ozone and carbon monoxide. During the next few weeks I plan to hold a EerleG of meetings in areas of Pennsylvania subject to the i/in requirement to solicit citizen comment and determine what the effects of the i/in program are likely to be. Based upon these meetingsand the evaluation I am requesting from EPAI shall then decide what modifications to the Clean Air Act may be necessary. I therefore request that implementation of the i/rn program be delayed until EPA can provide satisfactory answers to the following questions: (1) What evidence is there that the i/rn program will result In significant Improveme..L in ambient levels of ozone and carbon monoxide In Pennsylvania? (2) Is the i/rn program the most costeffective means .of effecting these reductions in Pennsylvania? (3) Is the i/rn requirement mandated in the 1977 amendments now obsolete Iii view of the effect of higher gasoline prices. which is reducing automobile travel. and the Improved pollution control equipment Installed on new automobiles? (4) Because vehicles coming off the assembly line are Inspected only on a random basiswhereas all vehicles will be subject to the i/rn requirementis it possible that consumers will end up paying to repair equipment that was defective at time of purchase? (5) Is EPAs performance warranty for pollution control equipment an equitable. workable. and enforceable means of protecting the consumer from unjustified expense and repair shops from questionable claims? (0) Is the i/in requirement consistent with other provisions of the Clean Air Act. which set ambient air quality standards but in most Instances leave the attainment mechanisms to the discretion of the States In the development of state Implementation plans (SIPs). Thank you for your prompt attention to this request. Sincerely.