News Release 354

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WILL PHASE IN THE GATEWAY VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAM
Plates expiring September 2007 will receive emissions testing extension

Volume 35-350

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, AUG. 20, 2007- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will phase in the new vehicle emissions testing requirements for St. Louis area motorists through September. Official emissions testing under the new program will now begin Monday, Oct. 1.

The current emission program, the Gateway Clean Air Program, will end Sept. 1.  The original implementation date to begin the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program was Sept. 4.  The state desires a high-quality and efficient emissions testing program and has opted to use the month of September to allow participating shops ample time to become familiar with the software and equipment necessary to perform the emissions test.   This will ensure a more seamless transition for both shop owners and St. Louis area motorists.

“We regret any inconvenience this delay will cause for September registrants.  In order to allow flexibility, we are granting an emissions testing extension until Dec. 1,” said Leanne Tippett Mosby, deputy director of the Division of Environmental Quality. “Allowing shops more time to familiarize their inspectors with the new equipment will ensure a seamless transition for both the shop owners and St. Louis area motorists and provide an emissions testing program that is both reliable and efficient.”

There will be no facilities offering emissions testing during September.  Therefore, the Department of Natural Resources is encouraging motorists with odd model year plates that expire in September to test their vehicle early to ease this transition.  September registrants can have their vehicle tested early at one of the current Gateway Clean Air Program testing locations on or before Sept. 1.  However, if they miss this cutoff, they will be granted an emissions testing extension until Dec. 1. Vehicle owners will need a passing safety inspection to renew their plates in September. The department will send a notice to these registrants to remind them to fulfill their emissions testing requirements.

The Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program will shift vehicle emissions testing from the centralized testing locations back to local auto shops in the St. Louis nonattainment area. The nonattainment area includes the city of St. Louis and Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties.
Local auto shops will test 1996 and newer gas-powered vehicles and 1997 and newer diesel-powered vehicles registered in the St. Louis ozone nonattainment area using on-board diagnostics equipment. This advanced computer inspection system will determine whether 1996 and newer vehicles pass or fail the emissions test. This testing method will be a noticeable change in Franklin County as vehicles were previously OBD tested for advisory purposes only.

Model year vehicles 1995 and older will be exempt from the emissions testing requirements after Sept. 1, as they do not contain the OBD equipment necessary for testing. However, safety inspections are still required biennially. The impact on ground-level ozone from these older vehicles will continue to decrease as these vehicles are phased out and become a smaller percentage of the fleet.

The Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program is jointly administered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The program is a key component of the ongoing effort to improve air quality in the St. Louis region. 

For more information about the Gateway Vehicle Inspection Program, visit the Web site at www.GatewayVIP.com or call 800-OBD-TEST (623-8378).

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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