ATLANTA -- The EPA announced the removal of 26 counties from North Carolina's vehicle emissions inspections.
The EPA claimed the regulations were no longer needed and should save consumers money.
The following counties are now excluded from vehicle emissions inspection tests: Brunswick, Burke, Caldwell, Carteret, Catawba, Chatham, Cleveland, Craven, Edgecombe, Granville, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Lenoir, Moore, Nash, Orange, Pitt, Robeson, Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Wayne, Wilkes and Wilson.
The EPA said counties comply with ozone air quality standards removing the requirement won't interfere with their ability to remain in compliance with any air quality standards.
EPA Mobile Sources Compliance Monitoring Program
Compliance with the vehicle and engine emissions standards is the responsibility of the vehicle or engine manufacturer. Vehicles and engines used in the United States must be manufactured under the terms of an emissions certificate of conformity issued by EPA. Imported vehicles and engines must be EPA-certified, with certain very limited exceptions. The removal or disabling of vehicle or engine emission controls by any person is prohibited.
Refiners and fuel importers have the primary responsibility of compliance with the motor vehicle fuels standards. Parties in the fuel distribution system are responsible for ensuring that motor vehicle fuel is not contaminated and is used in the proper locations and times. For example, more stringent gasoline standards apply during the summer high ozone season and to reformulated gasoline used in certain ozone nonattainment areas. Vehicles and equipment may only use fuels designated and registered for that type of vehicle or equipment.
Compliance Monitoring
EPA reviews applications for emissions certificates from vehicle and engine manufacturers, and conducts emissions testing of vehicles and engines on the production line and in-use following introduction into commerce. EPA works in conjunction with the United States Customs and Border Protection to ensure that imported vehicles and engines are certified. In addition, light-duty vehicle emissions are checked periodically through state-implemented “inspection and maintenance” programs in most ozone nonattainment areas. EPA conducts inspections of:
vehicle and engine manufacturing facilities,
emission laboratories,
dealers of vehicles and mobile engines and
suppliers and installers of vehicle and engine parts.
EPA conducts fuels inspections primarily at:
retail outlets
terminals
refiners
importers
fuels testing laboratories
Refiners and importers are required to test all their gasoline and submit reports to EPA. In addition, refiners and importers are required to use independent laboratories to conduct quality assurance testing of reformulated gasoline when it is produced and quality surveys of reformulated gasoline when it is sold at retail outlets, and to submit reports to EPA of this testing.