VEHICLE EMISSIONS INSPECTIONAND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM IS BEHIND SCHEDULE
Under the Clean Air Act, 30 states and the District of Columbia are to implement vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs to ensure that carbon monoxide and ozone air quality standards will be attained by the end of 1987. The District of Columbia and roughly half of the states met the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) target date for implementing the I/M program - December 31, 1982. As of September 1984, 12 more states had implemented I/M and 4 other states were expected to begin a program between July 1985 and February 1986. I/M programs are controversial because the benefits are not always clear, and their implementation costs are considerable. In addition, thee future need for I/M programs is uncertain because of indications that air quality has improved nationwide generally without I/M programs and with recent advances in vehicle technology for controlling emissions. The effectiveness of ongoing I/M programs has generally not been evaluated, and at least eight programs have experienced operational problems. GAO believes EPA's scheduled audits should be completed by thee close of fiscal year 1986 so that states can benefit from any EPA recommendations before the 1987 deadline. However, EPA has not budgeted adequate resources to complete the scheduled audits. Therefore, GAO recommends that the Administrator, EPA, reassess the priority given to completing scheduled audits of state I/M programs.
- Record URL:
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Supplemental Notes:
- Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives.
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Corporate Authors:
U.S. General Accounting Office
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20548 -
Authors:
- Bowsher, C A
- Publication Date: 1985-1-16
Media Info
- Pagination: 66 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Carbon monoxide; Compliance; Exhaust gases; Feasibility analysis; Inspection; Motor vehicles; Ozone; Strategic planning; Vehicle maintenance
- Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment; I10: Economics and Administration;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00450067
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Energy Research Abstracts
- Report/Paper Numbers: GAO/RCED-85-22
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Aug 27 2004 8:55PM