News Release 430

VEHICLE EMISSIONS TESTING BEGINS ON OCT. 1
IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA

Volume 35-430

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, SEPT. 28, 2007 -- St. Louis area motorists will take part in a new emissions testing program starting Oct. 1. The Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program has licensed auto shops to perform on-board diagnostics emissions testing.

More than 200 auto shops will be ready to offer emissions testing on Oct. 1. The number of participating locations will continue to increase as final licensing and approval is completed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Overall, approximately 700 auto shops have signed up to participate. The state's contractor, SysTech International, has completed installation at 450 of those locations.

The Department of Natural Resources has developed a Web site and publications to inform motorists and shops about the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program. For the latest on testing locations and additional information about the changing emissions testing requirements, visit the Web site at www.GatewayVIP.com or call 1-866-OBD-TEST (623-8378). As the state continues to license additional locations, the station's name, location and phone number will be added to the Web site.

October registrants are encouraged to begin emissions testing on Oct. 1, however, because the state is still in the process of licensing stations these registrants will have some flexibility as they fulfill their emissions testing requirements. Odd model year vehicles with October plates that fail to complete their emissions testing requirements by Oct. 31 will have until Jan. 1 to comply. Motor vehicle license offices will allow renewals with proof of a passing safety inspection. Motorists will not have to return to a license office once they complete their emissions test. Motorists that receive a passing emissions test can show proof of compliance to a local license office with their paper Vehicle Inspection Report.

Local auto shops will test 1996 and newer gasoline-powered vehicles and 1997 and newer diesel-powered vehicles registered in the St. Louis ozone nonattainment area using on-board diagnostics (OBD) equipment. This advanced computer inspection system will determine whether 1996 and newer vehicles pass or fail the emissions test. The nonattainment area includes the city of St. Louis and Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties.

Model year vehicles 1995 and older will be exempt from the emissions testing requirements, as they do not contain the OBD equipment necessary for testing. However, safety inspections are still required biennially. The impact on ground-level ozone from these older vehicles will continue to decrease, as these vehicles become a smaller percentage of the fleet and are phased-out.
The Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program is jointly administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The program is a key component of the ongoing effort to improve air quality in the St. Louis region.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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