[S]enate committees have narrowed an exemption on car emissions testing over concerns that the original proposal would put the state afoul of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
The Senate Transportation Committee started off the session discussing how to shield lower income Vermonters from the costs of coming into line with federal emissions standards.
The committee debated providing need-based waivers or repair subsidies, but decided that an exemption for older cars was simpler and quicker. The Senate gave a preliminary okay to a bill, S.84, that would exempt cars 10 years or older from emissions testing last week.
A final vote on the matter was stalled due to concerns about the impact the exemption could have on air quality. Megan O’Toole, an attorney with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation, said last week that the move would likely put Vermont in violation of the Clean Air Act.
Vermont is in the process of having its air quality standards plan approved by federal environmental authorities. While not all states have emissions testing, Vermont is required to do so under an amendment to the Clean Air Act because it is one of the Northeast states with ozone pollution problems, said O’Toole.
The Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee heard from the DEC this week on the air quality impacts of exemptions for cars older than 10 and 15 years. Committee Chair Sen. Chris Bray, D-Addison, introduced a strike-all bill amendment that would exempt cars older than 15 model years from emissions testing.
Bray said in an interview Friday that his change would “cut in half” the amount of excess emissions from the original proposal. Exempting cars older than 10 years would result in a loss of two thirds of currently required emissions reductions, while the 15 model year window would result in a one third emissions reductions loss, according to data from DEC.
“The point you have to understand is that by excluding the older vehicles, you’re excluding a disproportionate number of vehicles that you would get the benefit from,” said Tom Moye, section chief with the DEC’s air quality and climate division, in an interview Friday.
Megan O’Toole, attorney for DEC, said the department thinks exempting cars older than 15 years would be “less likely” to violate standards in the Clean Air Act. She noted that the state cannot be sure until the Environmental Protection Agency weighs in.
Sen. Andy Perchlik, D/P-Washington, visited the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Friday and said his committee, Senate Transportation, had tentatively signed off on the 15 model year window.
“It’s not as many Vermonters as we originally wanted to help but we’re willing to compromise in deference to this committee’s concerns about emissions standards,” he said.
Sen. John Rodgers, D-Orleans, referred in an interview Friday to the model year exemption plan as using a “blunt instrument” to solve a complex problem. In some cases, an emissions inspection might yield an inexpensive fix that could improve fuel economy, which would reduce emissions and ultimately provide savings for the driver, he said. But Rodgers added that the check engine light can also remain on despite extensive replacements to car parts.
“I’m going to support this,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the best answer but I think, because it’s such a complex issue, it’s a really tough answer to figure out.”
Bray said the amendment will go before the Senate next week.
Ethan Latour, spokesperson for Gov. Phil Scott, said that that the governor “appreciates the Senate’s consideration of how the new system will adversely affect some Vermonters,” But Scott will wait to weigh in on the different exemptions so the discussion can run its course in the Legislature.
