News Release No. 485

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO HOST
VEHICLE INSPECTION TECHNOLOGY TRADE SHOW

Volume 33-485

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 29, 2005 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is hosting a vehicle inspection technology trade show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Holiday Inn-Viking, 10709 Watson Road, St. Louis. The trade show will explore the range of technology available in the field of decentralized vehicle emissions inspection and data management.

The current contract between Missouri and the vehicle emissions testing provider expires in 2007. Responding to public criticism of the current program, the Department of Natural Resources and area legislators are reviewing modifications to the program which would make it more convenient and user friendly, while maintaining improvements to air quality in the non attainment area.

Federal rules indicate that a vehicle emissions testing program will be required as part of Missouri's plan to meet the new, stricter eight-hour ozone standard. The department has been working with interested stakeholders to develop an emissions testing program that significantly increases customer convenience while maintaining improvements to air quality. Over the past several months, the department has reviewed possible program designs with stakeholders through the Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Summit. The summit participants included St. Louis community leaders and members of industry groups, environmental groups, the automotive sales and service industry, other affected state agencies and state legislators who previously sponsored or cosponsored legislation to change the emissions testing program.

The I/M Summit's general consensus was to begin a decentralized emissions testing program in late 2007. "Decentralized" means local automotive service shops would perform the testing rather than a centralized contractor. Another modification being considered is the combining of emissions testing and vehicle inspection. To aid in the design of this revamped program, area legislators have asked the department to invite potential vendors to display their services at the trade show.

For more information concerning the trade show, please call the Air Pollution Control Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817. For more information on the I/M Summit Process visit www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/SIPWORKGRP/SipGrpmain.htm#IM.

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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