
				Pat Quinn, Governor

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Environmental Progress - Summer 1996

Ten Years of Emission Testing

Program has been improving Illinois' air for a decade.

group.jpg (38146 bytes) The Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program recently celebrated a decade of cleaner air, as May 1996 marked the 10th anniversary of vehicle emissions testing in Illinois. Some 22 million emission tests have been conducted since the program began testing cars' exhaust emissions.

A 1994 Illinois EPA study showed the program reduced Chicago-area ozone-forming hydrocarbon emissions by 11 percent compared to what emissions would have been without the program. Chicago-area carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were reduced by 23 percent. Metro East St. Louis-area hydrocarbon emissions were reduced by 5 percent, and CO emissions were reduced by 10 percent. The reductions in the Metro East area are lower because of the smaller vehicle population subject to testing.

The test program began with seven stations in the Chicago metropolitan area and three in the Metro East region. The test station network has since grown to 22 stations, with 19 serving the Chicago area. Approximately 2.1 million tests are conducted each year.

The program, which achieves air quality benefits as failed vehicles' emission control systems are repaired for retesting, is a critical element in the Illinois EPA's effort to improve air quality. Since testing started in 1986, vehicles have become less polluting, but still contribute as much as 50 percent of emissions that form ozone in urban areas.

Test Program Manager Elizabeth Tracy present employees with certificates of appreciation during a recognition ceremony held in Elk Grove Village on May 6. Charter member VIM staff include: Ethel Bachman, Dale Hench, Jim Matheny, Jim O'Bryan, Rich Barton, Paul Crotchett, Eli Felper, Darrick Hammond, Joe Harris, Rob Harris, Rich Kielbasa, Lee Love, Frank Novak, Tom Panici, Vince Parmigiani, Joe Pendola, Dave Platt, Mike Salvatore, Ed Smith, Wes Streblo, Jim Sullivan, Leroy Wright and Mack Yarbough.