Well,
Here's the email:
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2000 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: CARB Approval
> Dear Bernd D. Ratsch:
>
> Generally speaking, the EPA test aftermarket vehicle equipment, as we do,
> occasionally. California also test equipment and issues letters of
> approval. Since California has very tough standards, most of the time the
> EPA and Texas will approve use of CARB's testing as a substitute for our
> own. After market retailers often cite the CARB approval as "50 states
> legal" and do not go to all the other states for testing. It's too
> expensive.
>
> In recent years, the EPA has been adopting more difficult standards of air
> quality. The individual states have been adopting plans called State
> Implementation Plans (SIP) to handle state specific problems. This makes
> some state's SIPs even more stringent than even California.
>
> Under the rules and regulations adopted by DPS the vehicle inspector will
> inspect, if installed as original equipment by the manufacturer, the
following:
> thermostatic air cleaner, EGR, PCV, air injection system, evaporative
system,
> and catalytic convertor. The inspector inspects and rejects if parts of
the emissions
> systems have been removed, disconnected or altered in any way manner to
make
> it ineffective.
>
> The inspection stations inspect vehicles under rules and regulations
issued
> by this department. As with anything else written down, there are usually
> several interpretations to what the words actually mean. Some people are
> "sticklers" and enforce to the letter of the rule and others factor in a
> healthy dose of common sense. However, the inspection stations are
> inspected too, by our technicians. A vehicle inspector who uses too much
> discretion then they are subject to lose their license and often that
means
> their livelihood. You should understand that it is hard to write these
rules
> so that they are easily understandable; clear and concise; and cover every
> modification that could possibly be performed on a vehicle with all the
> different permutations of the regulations. If the item of equipment is "50
> state legal" it will not alter emissions equipment in a manner to make the
> system ineffective and you should pass the safety inspection. That's why
we
> have people to look at problems that come up. In this area, the Vehicle
> Inspection Service personnel can look at the item of equipment that you
are
> talking about and help settle the dispute with the inspection station.
They
> are located at 9000 N. I-35, Austin, TX 78753 or call (512) 997-4116.
>
> I hope this information has helped you.
>
> E. Eugene Summerford
> Legal Counsel
> Vehicle Inspection & Emissions
>
> P.S. That BAR 97 training may come in handy, if the EPA starts requiring
> emissions testing here in Austin in 2003 under the new 8 hour NAAQS,
> although they now want ASM-2 testing.
>
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