"Emissions tests could return under new federal regs," The Gazette

August 10, 2011 4:12 PM
Debbie Kelley
The Gazette

Remember vehicle emissions testing? It’s possible that program could return to the Pikes Peak region, if President Obama agrees to more stringent federal ozone standards, the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments board was told Wednesday.

“We’ve had high ozone concentrations this year and we’ll probably go to non-attainment status,” meaning the region would be out of compliance if the new limits take effect, said Rich Muzzy, environmental program manager for the PPACG, an organization made up of 16 area cities and counties.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision whether to impose stricter requirements has been postponed four times in the past year, including an expected July 29 announcement.

Agency Chief Lisa Jackson has submitted a proposal to the Obama administration for review, calling for maximum levels between 60 and 70 parts per billion when averaged over an eight-hour period.

“Going to the president is a step we haven’t seen before, so we’re expecting a decision will be made relatively soon,” Muzzy said.

The Pikes Peak region, which includes most communities in El Paso County and some in Teller County, had an average of 71 ppb from 2008 to 2010, he said. That is in compliance with the current ozone standards of 75 ppb, set in 2008 by the George W. Bush administration.

Local conditions are around 70 ppb for the 2009-2011 period, Muzzy said. That would be at the high end of the new proposed regulations.

Ozone is a colorless, odorless reactive gas found naturally in the earth’s stratosphere and also near the surface, where pollutants emitted from vehicles, household chemicals and activities such as oil and gas production react in sunlight to form ozone. Ozone is the main component of smog.

Should the Pikes Peak region fall out of compliance, the PPACG would have to come up with ways to lower pollutant in the air, Muzzy said, and “all strategies would be on the table.”  Those could include mandatory idle reduction programs, carpooling or emissions testing.

“Some of those would be an additional drag on the economy,” said PPACG board member and county Clerk and Recorder Wayne Williams.

“Emissions testing was done on older cars, and it was the poor people who ended up paying the additional money, not the people who lease a new car every three years,” he said. “It disproportionately affects the poor, and that could have a significant detrimental economic impact on our area.”

There are two state-funded and county-operated ozone monitoring stations in the region, at the Air Force Academy and at the public works facility in Manitou Springs. The highest concentrations usually occur from June through August, Muzzy said.