  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - May 30, 2000
00-096
OLYMPIA -- Owners of 1996-model automobiles do not need an emission check this year after all, according to the state Department of Ecology.
The department is notifying 74,000 vehicle owners in the Puget Sound, Spokane and Vancouver areas that an emission-check notice they have been receiving this year is not accurate. In fact, the next emission inspection for 1996 models is not due until 2001.
"This is our first year of implementing a new law, and clearly there are some bugs we needed to work out," said Mary Burg, who manages Ecology's air-quality program. "We deeply apologize for this mistake and for any inconvenience we have caused."
Owners of 1996 vehicles will receive letters explaining their options. If they already had their auto emissions checked, they may request a refund of the $15 fee and have their emissions checked again in 2001, or they may wait until 2003 for their next inspection.
The error came as Ecology began to implement a 1998 law that exempts vehicles less than five years old and more than 25 years old, starting in 2000. This year, 1996 through 2000 model-years are exempt, as well as model years 1975 and older. The accurate emission-test schedule is as follows:
Year Vehicles requiring a test
2000 1976-1994, even-model-years only
2001 1977-1995, odd-model-years only; plus 1996
2002 1978-1994, even-model-years only; plus 1997
2003 1979-1995, odd-model-years only; plus 1996, 1998
The Emission Check program serves the urban portions of Clark, King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane counties, testing more than 2 million gasoline and diesel vehicles every two years. Repairs to vehicles that fail inspections reduce vehicle emissions overall by 20 percent.
For more information, please call 800-453-4951 or visit Ecology's Emission Check Web site at http://www.wa.gov/ecology/air/airhome.html
Contacts:
Department of Ecology Web site http://www.wa.gov/ecology/
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
