Emissions

[slowgreen99]

Word on the skreet is that South Carolina will be doing "inspections" or at least "sniffer tests" beginning in 2010. I was just wondering if anyone else had any more information on that? And if thats true, im in trouble!

[Mike]

The way gas prices are going I'll be driving a moped in 2010, so I don't have anything to worry about.


Yesterday I filled my truck up, and it cost $160.00. That same amout of diesel 18 months ago would of cost 75.00. I give up, point me in the direction of the nearest moped dealership.

[chrisheltra]

Yahoo and Google are your friends.

From the Post and Courier
http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/...ns_tests44392/

If this happens I think all of us on CHP will be in trouble. Maybe they will "grandfather in" all vehicles prior to the ruling.

S.C. might require auto emissions tests
Federal pollution limit could prompt annual inspections

By Bo Petersen (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Friday, June 13, 2008



South Carolina doesn't require vehicle exhaust inspections, but they could be on the horizon for Charleston motorists if the area doesn't start meeting a new federal ozone standard.

If the area fails to meet the standard by 2010, owners could be forced to have their cars and trucks tested by a mechanic once a year. A machine would check if exhaust pollutants were being cleaned up enough.

Such tests already are required in about half of North Carolina's counties at a cost of $30 per vehicle. If a motorist's vehicle fails the test, he has to get the problem fixed.

The Charleston area is at 74 parts per billion of ozone in its air, just below the 75 parts per billion threshold that will have to be met starting in less than two years. Vehicle emissions testing would be required in areas that are deemed to be "moderately" above the standard, said Brian Barnes, S.C. Health and Environmental Control air quality environmental manager.

Failing to meet the standard also eventually could mean losing millions of dollars per year in federal money to build new roads.

The Environmental Protection Agency will decide the meaning of "moderately" above the standard in 2010.

In the meantime, commuter and commercial traffic continues to increase in the Charleston area, with major expansions of Interstates 26 and 526 under way or in the planning stages. The I-26 work alone, designed partly to accommodate an expansion of the port, is expected to put 10,000 more vehicles per day on the road.

Ozone is the chief greenhouse gas, created largely by sunlight reacting with pollutants from cars and trucks. It's considered a major health threat.

A recent analysis by The Post and Courier suggested that when looked at as a single emissions source, vehicles would rank as one of the biggest polluters in the Lowcountry.

The exhaust tests would be part of a multi-approach plan the EPA demands that failing states put together to try to meet the standard. If Charleston doesn't go too far over the limit, DHEC likely would submit a plan that doesn't include testing, Barnes said. Testing "is a very unpopular thing. It's an expensive thing. We would use the smartest approach to get the area back in attainment."

Under the old 80 parts per billion standard, the tests were required in areas that were 10 percent above the limit. But decisions were made on a case-by-case basis.

Winning EPA approval of plans without vehicle testing depends on how big a polluter vehicles are considered to be relative to other polluters in the area, said Elizabeth Ouzts of Environment North Carolina, a clean air advocate in that state.

"In most cases," she said, "you're going to have to reduce pollutants from cars."

The plan also could include projects such as road construction with carpool lanes, bicycle and pedestrian friendly developments and no-idling zones, as well as industrial reductions.

[05Saleen]

Mike. Run Bio Diesel. Much cheaper. There is a place right there off Virginia Ave. Go through the base gate and turn left you see it on the left.

[///Mcompact]

I'm glad I kept my entire OEM exhaust system.

[perm102]

Originally Posted by chrisheltra

The plan also could include projects such as road construction with carpool lanes, bicycle and pedestrian friendly developments and no-idling zones, as well as industrial reductions. [/B]

Isn't that the interstate during rush hour?

[El_Griton]

4 banger FTW!

[LXtasy]

hell, 2 of my vehicles would fail most likely. F the emissions shit. If the interstate wasn't backed up every work day for a couple of hours at a time, there wouldn't be this problem. Guess, they rather hit the vehicles instead of checking on industrial plants in the area also.

[dkbmxer002]

usually they grandfather any vehicles made prior to the change... but if not just make buddy with a shop that does inspections...

[El_Griton]

Originally Posted by dkbmxer002

usually they grandfather any vehicles made prior to the change... but if not just make buddy with a shop that does inspections...

thats how I always pasted my CARB inspections in my Mustangs. a 50 spot always went a long ways.

[SlowBlk4dr]

Look around the area at Heavy Industry ... they are the ones that jacked up the pollutant numbers. SC allowed them to do this as part of the incentive to get big business in the area...think about this...with the prevailing wind and weather coming off the ocean, if heavy industry was half of what it is in this area, the car emissions thing would never be an issue...I feel this is a way for us the tax payers to get hoinked in the azz for the state politicians and big bizz swinging on each others nuts...

8)

[snakeplissken]

"Failing to meet the standard also eventually could mean losing millions of dollars per year in federal money to build new roads."

Once again the federal government will refuse to return our money to us unless we comply. You know, like forcing SC to raise the drinking age or lowering the legal limit of alcohol concentration.

[94FormulaBird]

by 2010 my car will be 16 years old...so i hope itll be excluded...cuz the only way i would pass would be with some cash

[mattybz28]

They need to put those inspections on government vehicles first.


Starting with those POS school buses that when you're stuck behind them you can't breath and almost die.

[jay_99z]

Originally Posted by snakeplissken

"Failing to meet the standard also eventually could mean losing millions of dollars per year in federal money to build new roads."

Lol! Build new roads? What would we be losing? These roads are pretty damn pathetic. How often do they actually touch the roads we have? For an area that has warm weather.....I don't know if there are any worse.

[crumbie]

Even if you have oem exhaust, you still may have to "tune up" your car and get new emissions components.

[Darryl Buckner]

Originally Posted by jay_99z

Lol! Build new roads? What would we be losing? These roads are pretty damn pathetic. How often do they actually touch the roads we have? For an area that has warm weather.....I don't know if there are any worse.

They were just talking on the news last night about putting off road construction and repair jobs in S.C. due to rising fuel prices..

[dkbmxer002]

i swear charleston along with most of s.c. has some of the worst roads i have driven on.

[clubracergt1]

Originally Posted by dkbmxer002

i swear charleston along with most of s.c. has some of the worst roads i have driven on.

Northern Illinois FTL!

[clubracergt1]

Originally Posted by 05Saleen

Mike. Run Bio Diesel. Much cheaper. There is a place right there off Virginia Ave. Go through the base gate and turn left you see it on the left.

Check with Dodge first on the Bio-diesel thing. I know that Ford will only allow B15 on the new trucks, B5 on the 6.0.