UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 OFFIC IA L BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $30 0 " ' AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER POST A G £ AND FEES PAID ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY EPA-J 35 A 25SEnvironmental News Fii-.7wat.er (202V 755-0344 O'Neill (202) 755-0344 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY, JULY 20', 19 76 EPA REQUIRES ASSEMBLY LINE AUTO TESTING Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Russell E. Train today announced an automobile assembly line testing program, called Selective Enforcement Auditing, designed to help ensure compliance with Federal exhaust emission standards. "The auto manufacturers1 own data indicate that more than half a million 19 76 model cars did not satisfy the Federal emission requirements when they came off the assembly line," Train said. "EPA data on 1975 vehicles in actual use suggest even higher noncompliance. As a result of this new program, American consumers will be better assured that the benefits of their investment in pollution control will be realized." The audits would apply to 19 77 and later model year cars and light duty trucks, both domestically produced and imported. The auditing will be implemented on a trial basis for those vehicles produced prior to January 1, 1977, and fully imple- mented after that date. "The new program is an important step in the Federal effort to control emissions from motor vehicles, which remain a major source of air pollution in the Nation," Train said. "Testing cars at the assembly line to check their emissions control performance will help ensure that cars are being built (more) Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material ~, or if change of address is needed ~ (indicate change, including zip code). EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. 8-72) R-195 ------- -2- the way they were designed," Train said, "and provide a measure of assurance that cars on the road will meet Federal air pollution standards." New cars and light duty trucks may not be sold in the U.S. unless certified by EPA as meeting Federal emission standards. Certification is granted after emission tests are made on prototype cars representing the various vehicle makes, models and configurations. The new auditing program will more effectively ensure that cars and trucks reaching the public meet the same emission requirements as the prototypes tested by EPA. The EPA audit will work this way: once a particular vehicle "configuration" (same type engine, emission control system, transmission and weight class) has been identified by EPA for testing, a specified number of those vehicles will be randomly chosen from the production of a single plant. The testing may then be done by either the manufacturer or EPA. If the random tests indicate a failure rate in excess of that permitted by the regulations, the configuration being tested may have its certification suspended or revoked. Once suspended or revoked, the certificate will remain so, until the manufacturer can demonstrate to EPA that the problems causing the emissions failure have been corrected. "During the course of review of these regulations, an issue was raised regarding the cost-effectiveness of the Selective Enforcement Audit program," Train said. "However, after a thorough and careful review, I have concluded that, the selective nature of the program requiring testing of only a small number of vehicles makes it a highly cost-effective and efficient way to assure the proper emission performance of production vehicles. Nevertheless, in view of the concerns which have been expressed, the Agency intends to monitor the implementation of this program very carefully to assure that it proves to be cost-effective, particularly in relation to other automobile emissions control programs. Once the SEA program has been fully implemented, we will undertake a review to ensure that its stated objectives are being met, to determine if modifications are required and to decide whether continuation of the program is merited." The new regulations will be published soon gffife Federal Register. d Qftemica! Ubi'i Room 3340 ItAKi s! i' < ft tt & fc/t»Ur:OQ3 34041 % Mm 1301 Constitution ent Collection ------- |