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Department of Ecology News Release - March 19, 2002
02-041
SPOKANE- More than 11 tons of air pollution have been kept out of Spokane's air over the past five months, thanks to a program that helps low-income car owners either repair their emission systems or replace their malfunctioning cars.
The vehicle-emissions repair program (VERP) was initiated in October 2001, and pays for repairing the emission system of cars that otherwise would not have been fixed because of their owners' financial hardship.
"Before VERP, many of these cars were unable to be completely fixed due to the high cost of repairs, so we ended up issuing waivers for them after minimal improvements," said Ken Gamble of the Department of Ecology (Ecology).
Gamble explained that Ecology can issue a waiver for a car that fails the emission test after the owner spends at least $100 to repair a 1980 or older vehicle or $150 on a 1981 or newer vehicle. The purpose of the waivers is to help people who would suffer a severe financial hardship because of high repair costs.
"The VERP program allows us to help low-income families and get close to 90 percent of those cars back on the road without the pollution," Gamble said.
The VERP program is a joint effort of the Spokane Neighborhood Action Program (SNAP), Ecology, Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority (SCAPCA), and Avista. Emissions testing is conducted by an Ecology contractor at two test stations in Spokane, one on Hamilton Street and one on Howe Road.
If a client's car fails the emission test and the vehicle cannot be repaired cost-effectively (based on the value of the vehicle), the program offers the client the option of using VERP money to replace the vehicle with a new or used vehicle.
The client gets matching money at a one-to-one rate, up to $1,500. Each recipient is required to attend a car maintenance class provided by SNAP and must agree to have the "old" vehicle removed for scrapping. The new or used vehicle also must pass the emission test.
Of the 62 vehicles that have gone through the program so far, 48 of them passed the emission test after repairs were made, for a total of just over $14,000 grant dollars spent. The average repair cost per vehicle was $255.
Seven vehicles were deemed unrepairable. Three vehicles were purchased with a total of $4,482 from the VERP program, and four vehicles received waivers from the requirement to pass the emission test.
The money for the VERP program came from two sources. One source was Avista. In 2001 during the energy shortage, Avista entered into an agreement with SCAPCA to temporarily operate the company's northeast combustion turbines to generate more power. Avista agreed to provide money for the VERP program to offset the excess air pollution produced by its turbines.
The other source of funding was Kaiser Mead Works as part of a settlement with Ecology for air pollution violations. Kaiser did not agree with the allegations but agreed to settle the matter by paying a civil penalty and contributing to the VERP program.
The VERP program is expected to operate for at least two years. At the end of two years, most motor vehicles in the emission test area will have been tested and repaired.
Contact: Jani Gilbert, public information manager, 509-456-4464; pager, 509-622-1289
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
