Illinois EPA introduces fleet testing option as part of its Vehicle Emission Testing Program

SPRINGFIELD—In its ongoing effort to make the vehicle emissions testing program in the Chicagoland and Metro East areas more efficient and effective, Illinois EPA will allow owners and operators of fleets of vehicles to establish and operate Private Official Inspection Stations for their own fleets, according to Agency Director Doug Scott.

 

The testing must conform to all applicable vehicle emissions testing rules and the equipment must meet all quality assurance and quality control requirements.

 

"Allowing fleet owners to test their own vehicles allows them to do it on their own schedules, which is sometimes when our existing emissions testing stations are closed, such as at night or on the weekend," said Director Scott.  "This can often work out better when the vehicles must be on the road during regular business hours."

 

According to the rules, any owner or lessee of a fleet of 15 or more gasoline-powered vehicles that are subject to inspection may apply to the Agency for a permit. All vehicles in the fleet inventory must be inspected biennially.  

 

With this authority, fleet managers may operate their own workstations capable of performing on-board diagnostic (OBD) tests, or workstations capable of performing OBD, exhaust and gas cap tests.  All fleet self-test inspections must be conducted using equipment that that is acquired from Illinois EPA's testing contractor and it must meet the same performance criteria, maintenance standards and calibration requirements as equipment used in Official Inspection Stations.  Forms and additional informaton are available at: www.IllinoisAirTeam.com.

 

The Vehicle Emissions Test Program plays an important role in reducing air pollution in Illinois.  Exhaust emissions from cars and trucks are one of the greatest sources of air pollution in the Chicago and Metro-East areas. Gasoline powered vehicles emit exhaust pollutants such as hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO_²).  Vehicle emissions are responsible for a substantial portion of NOx and other emissions that form ground-level ozone in major metropolitan areas. Driving a malfunctioning vehicle is probably a typical citizen's most "polluting" daily activity.