Subject:  Federal Fleet Emissions Inspections
In Reply Refer To:
Mail Stop 210


                      MEMORANDUM

                                                May 30, 2000



To:         Division Administrative Officers

From:     Melissa Courtney /signed/
          Chief, Property Management Branch

Subject:  Federal Fleet Emissions Inspections

It has recently come to our attention that the bureau is not in compliance 
with regulations pertaining to emissions inspections of our vehicle fleet. 
Previously, the Department issued notification that the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) had ruled that U.S. Government fleets would not be 
exempted from state emissions inspections.  The initial guidance indicated 
that only certain metropolitan areas would be directly affected by the 
emissions inspections requirements, and that each Federal facility would 
be responsible for reporting the number and type of vehicles routinely 
operated on the facility, and for certifying to the state that the 
vehicles are in compliance with state requirements.  Based on subsequent 
conversations with DOI staff, we anticipated additional guidance on this 
matter, but none was forthcoming.

From what we have been able to determine, emissions testing requirements 
vary from state to state, and the testing is tracked by the state at the 
county or city level.  All vehicle testing must be conducted at a 
certified emissions testing facility.  Vehicles must be tested within the 
timeframe designated by the state in the county in which the vehicle is 
operated and housed.  Local offices need to maintain emissions testing 
documents and submit such documents to the Department of Environmental 
Quality (or comparable agency) for the state in which the vehicle is 
operated, no later than March 31st of each year.

There are a few exemptions to this policy; the following need not have 
emissions inspections performed:

·       Vehicles less than 2 years old
·       Alternative Fuel Vehicles 
·       Vehicles for which the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) exceeds 
10,000 
pounds

The Vehicle Reporting:  Odometer or Maintenance (VROOM) system will be 
modified to include fields to collect vehicle emissions inspections 
information about Interior-owned vehicles, and the pertinent Program 
Support pages on the Intranet will be modified to include information 
about the emissions testing requirement. 

Please inform all offices of the requirement, which applies to both 
Interior-owned and GSA motor pool vehicles, to comply with local 
regulations governing emissions testing, and to maintain emissions testing 
documents for submission to the appropriate state agency.  For those 
offices in Virginia, additional information can be found at 
http://www.deq.state.va.us/mobile/mobile.html.  Other states may have 
similar web sites. 

Due to the variation in regulations from state to state, neither the 
Department nor this office can provide comprehensive guidance about this 
requirement.  We realize there may be problems in determining the specific 
regulations affecting each of your offices where GSA motor pool or 
Interior-owned vehicles are operated.  When and if we are able to gather 
additional information about this requirement, we will forward it to you. 
If you have any questions about this, please contact Pauline Scott, on 
(703) 648-7327, or via e-mail at pscott@usgs.gov.  Thank you for your 
cooperation.
 
Melissa Courtney
Property Management Branch
USGS National Center, MS 210
Reston, VA  20192
(703) 648-7322; FAX (703) 648-7527