SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5845

                    AS OF JANUARY 31, 1994

Brief Description:  Exempting recreational vehicles from emissions tests.

SPONSORS: Senators West, Pelz, Bauer, Anderson, Prince, Amondson, McCaslin, Snyder, Hargrove, Barr, Roach and Hochstatter

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Staff:  Gary Wilburn (786‑7453)

Hearing Dates: February 2, 1994

BACKGROUND:

The federal Clean Air Act requires states with areas that do not attain federal air quality standards to adopt measures to reach attainment by certain deadlines and to maintain such compliance for a minimum of 12 years beyond that date.  The federal law requires specific measures in some cases of nonattainment, including a program for emissions testing of vehicles in areas that have moderate to severe problems with carbon monoxide.  In Washington, the metropolitan areas of Seattle, Spokane and Vancouver have such problems, and inspection programs have been implemented and received federal approval.

Under these programs, all gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles registered in the geographic area within the program are tested biennially at approved testing stations located throughout areas.  In 1989 the state's testing program was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be modified from an annual test of each vehicle to a test every two years.  Offsetting changes made at that time were the expansion of the areas for testing, an increase in the number of model years of vehicles to be tested (1968 model years and later), and the inclusion of diesel-powered vehicles.

Of the "fleet" subject to testing within the three metropolitan areas in Washington, the Department of Ecology estimates that 280,000 vehicles are motor homes and camper vans.

SUMMARY:

Vehicles primarily designed and used for recreational camping, travel or seasonal use are excluded from the emissions testing program.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available