News Releases - 1999

Enhanced Vehicle Emissions Tests Scheduled To Begin Feb. 1

Springfield, Ill. -- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing that the enhanced vehicle emissions test program with new motorist convenience features is scheduled to start on Mon., Feb. 1.

The new tests target the pollutants that contribute to ground-level ozone (smog). Ozone is a respiratory irritant that can cause health problems, especially for children, the elderly, and people with heart and lung diseases.

Vehicles contribute about one-third of the pollutants that cause ozone, and the metropolitan Chicago and East St. Louis areas currently fail to meet minimum health-based standards for ozone. The enhanced test program is estimated to be twice as effective in reducing pollution.

New features of the test program, such as test stations now being open on Mondays in the Chicago area, additional stations in the East St. Louis area, and a hotline that provides the wait time at a station, are designed for greater motorist convenience. The test will continue to be performed at no cost to the motorist.

"Despite the program's success since it began in 1986 in significantly improving air quality, improved testing procedures are needed to address the problem of high concentrations of ground-level ozone that are still present in Illinois' urban areas," said Illinois EPA Director Tom Skinner. "It is anticipated that this new test, supplemented by our other pollution-reduction programs, will help us meet our goal of healthier air.

"We are all stakeholders in our environment; its future depends on citizens participating in programs like this one. We've worked hard to design the new testing program to be as easy as possible for consumers," Skinner added.

A 1994 Illinois EPA study showed the current program reduced Chicago-area ozone-forming hydrocarbon emissions by 11 percent and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions by 20 percent. East St. Louis-area hydrocarbon emissions were reduced by 5 percent, and CO emissions were reduced by 10 percent (reductions in the East St. Louis area are lower because of the smaller vehicle population subject to testing).

When fully implemented, it is estimated that CO will be reduced by 35 percent and that hydrocarbons will be reduced by 30 percent.

"The enhanced inspection and maintenance program is one of the most effective means of reducing air pollution in the Chicago area", said Brian Urbaszewski, director of Environmental and Health Policy, American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago. "It ensures that a car's emission control system is working properly and polluting less. When combined with other strategies to reduce air pollution, the inspection and maintenance program is vital to lung health."

"When you fix your car's emission problems, you're helping people with asthma breathe easier. That is why the new emissions program is so important to our region," said Karen Lanter, senior director of the American Lung Association, Southwestern Service Area.

While the current test procedure is effective in testing pre-1981 model-year vehicles that have carburetors, new technology is necessary to test newer vehicles' advanced emission-control systems.

The enhanced test uses a treadmill-like device called a dynamometer to simulate typical city driving. It is more accurate in identifying problems with a car's emission-control equipment.

Features of the new test include:

New Test Procedure

• A certified inspector drives the vehicle onto the test equipment while the motorist and passengers watch from a waiting booth.

• Most 1981 and newer vehicles will be tested on a dynamometer a treadmill device that simulates driving conditions. Most 1968-1980 vehicles will be tested using the idle test procedure (tailpipe probe).

• The vehicle's exhaust is captured and its emission contents are identified and measured at different acceleration and deceleration points.

• The vehicle's gas cap is also tested to ensure that is working properly by preventing fuel vapors from escaping into the atmosphere.

• If the vehicle fails, the motorist receives a vehicle inspection report and a repair diagnostic report with useful information for making the required repairs.

New Program Features

• Vehicles will be tested every other year beginning when the car is four model-years old. For example, a 1996 vehicle will be tested in 2000, 2002, 2004, etc.

• The Clean Air Act Amendments require an expanded testing area. New areas included under the program include 22 new zip code areas in the Chicago metropolitan area and 16 zip codes in the East St. Louis metropolitan area.

• More stations were built, existing stations were renovated and some stations were closed to accommodate the changing populations, the increased number of vehicles to be tested and the additional time required to perform the test. There will be a total of 28 stations in the metropolitan Chicago area and 7 in the Metro-East St. Louis area.

• For increased motorist convenience, test stations in the Chicago area now operate Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., while test stations in the Metro-East St. Lous area are open on different days of the week, but now operate on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Motorists will be notified by the Illinois EPA as to when their vehicles are eligible for testing.

• A new wait-time hotline will help motorists determine when waiting times are lowest.

Tips for Emission Testing

• Make sure the gas cap in on, and bring the key if yours locks.

• Leave your engine running at the test station unless you are asked to turn it off.

• Warm up your vehicle--drive it at least 15 minutes before testing.

• Call the hotline number listed in your test notice from the Illinois EPA to determine the up-to-the-minute wait time at the station you wish to use.

For more information, call the Illinois EPA at 847-758-3400.

Test Station List Follows

Northeastern Illinois Area Test Stations by Number

Northeastern Illinois Area Test Stations by Number
Temporarily Closed for Renovation
in January 1999 - Approximately 4 Months

Metro East Illinois Area Test Stations by Number