Vehicle Emissions

New Emissions Program Isn't Fair, Leopold SaysTruncated news stories, often constricted due to lack of space, sometimes convey a misleading or distorted picture. Such was the case with TaNoah V. Sterling's Jan. 5 article regarding the state's expanded, more stringent vehicle emissions inspection program ("District 31 legislators set sail separately").One of the reasons I voted against the vehicle emission program during my previous tenure in the House of Delegates was the arbitrary and inequitable delineation of counties to be included or excluded in the program.

Teamwork is a concept that the District 31 General Assembly delegation doesn't seem to talk about much.With the beginning of the 1995 legislative session less than a week away, the members say they have a number of ideas they hope to work on individually but little they want to do together.They don't even agree on what to do about the one issue that concerns all of them: a more stringent auto emissions testing program that was to begin Jan. 1.Democratic Sen. Phillip C. Jimeno, who believes the program costs motorists too much money and time said he will submit legislation that would stop the new program to allow the General Assembly to study it further and possibly revise it. Meanwhile, he said, the state would continue use the simpler, cheaper system.

Maryland's controversial new vehicle emissions program got off to a false start yesterday, as computer and staffing problems delayed the beginning of full-scale testing.A state legislative committee, meanwhile, dealt the air pollution control program a financial setback when it blocked the Motor Vehicle Administration from doubling the vehicle inspection fee to $17.The new, tougher tests are being adopted to fight smog, which affects the health of hundreds of thousands in the Baltimore and Washington areas.

Reacting to motorists' anger over controversial new emissions tests, Maryland officials announced yesterday that they would relax requirements for more than 40 percent of the 1.4 million cars and light trucks originally slated to get smog checks next year.The changes, giving breaks to owners of new and older vehicles, are intended to make the emissions tests more "consumer-friendly" without significantly weakening the state's push to clean up air pollution in the Baltimore and Washington areas, said W. Marshall Rickert, chief of the state Motor Vehicle Administration.

ANNAPOLIS -- A Carroll delegate's bill to make all Maryland residents share the cost of clean air was opposed by the Motor Vehicle Administration yesterday.Del. Donald B. Elliott, a Republican who represents Carroll and Howard counties, is sponsoring a bill to require all residents, not just those in counties where vehicle emissions tests are required, to pay an emissions control fee.Currently, emissions tests are required in the state's eight metropolitan counties -- including Carroll. In 1995, six more counties will be included.

A legislative committee is calling on the state Transportation Department to postpone the awarding of a lucrative contract for the vehicle emissions inspection program.Sen. Laurence Levitan, D-Montgomery, chairman of the powerful Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, said his committee will issue a letter Thursday formally asking for the contract to be delayed.He said members were motivated, in part, by a Government Accounting Office report that criticized the accuracy of the proposed emissions test.

A Carroll senator gave a boost Thursday to a bill sponsored by two Carroll delegates to protect residents who live near quarries from potential damage caused by mining.Sen. Charles H. Smelser, D-Carroll, Frederick, Howard, testified in support of the bill before the Senate Economic and Environmental Affairs Committee. The bill has passed the House."I think it was really significant that he came in to support it," said Delegate Donald B. Elliott, R-Carroll, Howard, a co-sponsor along with Delegate Richard N. Dixon, D-Carroll.

ANNAPOLIS -- In what one member described as "the major environmental vote" of the 1991 session, the House of Delegates approved legislation yesterday that backers say would reduce polluting vehicle emissions in Maryland at twice the rate required by federal law.By a 75-59 vote, the House sent to the Senate legislation that would set the level of vehicle emissions in Maryland using the same stiff standards set by the state of California. The California alternative is an option specifically offered states as a way of to meet overall clean-air standards adopted by Congress in the Clean Air Act of 1990.