For Release: August 20, 1998

Contact: Barbara Morin 222-2808 ext. 7012

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and the Division of Motor Vehicles announce that a public hearing on proposed regulations to implement the state's new motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program will be held Monday, August 24 at 10 a.m. in Conference Room A at the Department of Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence.

Legislation enacted during the 1998 session of the General Assembly authorizes DEM and the Division of Motor Vehicles to promulgate regulations establishing a new decentralized test and repair program for the state.

The proposed regulations would apply to most light duty vehicles that are less than 25 years old. They would establish a new high-tech test for tailpipe emissions combined with a more streamlined safety inspection process. Testing would be available at service stations throughout the state. Vehicles failing the emissions or safety tests would need to be repaired and re-tested. Waivers would be available for emissions failures under certain circumstances.

The new vehicle inspection program would improve upon the existing program by replacing the current annual inspection requirement with an every-other-year inspection. The new program would also adopt more streamlined procedures for the safety inspection process.

Rhode Island is designated as a serious non-attainment area for ozone and, under the federal Clean Air Act, the state is required to implement an enhanced inspection/maintenance program for tailpipe emissions.

The proposed regulations have been carefully crafted to reflect the perspectives of a broad-based citizen Advisory Committee, which has advised DEM and DMV on the design of the new program.

At the same hearing, DEM will accept comments on a revised plan demonstrating that the state has reduced emissions of ozone precursors, as required by the Clean Air Act. Upon EPA approval of this plan, federal sanctions imposed last year on transportation projects in the state will be lifted.

Written comments on the proposed regulations and the revised plan may be submitted at the public hearing or provided to DEM's Office of Air Resources at 235 Promenade Street, Providence until 4 p.m. on Monday, August 24. DEM will consider extending the public comment period if it receives requests to do so prior to the 4 p.m. deadline on the 24^th (call 222-2808).

Copies of the proposed regulations -- Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Inspection/Mainte-nance Program (DEM Air Pollution Control Regulation No. 34, Proposed Draft, 7/23/98; and DMV Safety and Emissions Control Regulation No. 1, Proposed Draft, 7/23/98) - as well as a Narrative Description of the Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Inspection/Maintenance Program (Draft, 7/29/98) and the Revised Rate of Progress Analysis may be obtained from DEM's Office of Air Resources or found on DEM's web site at www.dem.state.ri.us in the Program Update section.