The territory will develop an emissions testing program, alongside the existing vehicle safety inspections, if a bill sent out of committee in the V.I. Legislature Monday becomes law.
"It’s very simple. It just gives the Bureau of Motor Vehicles the authority to create an emissions testing procedure," said Sen. Sammuel Sanes, the bill’s sponsor. "Many of us have been driving and witnessed vehicles just polluting like crazy," Sanes said, adding that some industrial vehicles leave big clouds of smoke behind them, "so that sometimes on the road it is impossible to see ahead."
Money is a factor and times are hard, so there will be waivers for hardship and grandfathered vehicles. Agencies also will need to develop regulations, he said. "This will not occur in the next month or next couple of months," he said. "But to me this is the path leading in the right direction."
Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Alicia Barnes submitted written testimony supportive of the concept of inspections, but said DPNR "would need to revise its air pollution rules and regulations in order for any such program to be developed and to be effective."
DPNR would have to work with BMV and other agencies on the details of the program, from timing to forms of inspections. All of it would all have to be worked out, she pointed out.
Sanes agreed and the bill was purposefully simple, on the anticipation that the BMV and DPNR would be best situated to work out the specific regulations and procedures.
BMV Director Jerris Browne testified that emissions testing would address "a major federal and local requirement that the territory has ignored for decades." Local law prohibits the registration of motor vehicles if they do not meet the standards of the federal Clean Air Act, but the territory does not have a mechanism to check compliance, he said.
The Clean Air Act’s measures regarding cars focuses on the vehicle’s specifications at the time it is made. And states and territories are only mandated to have strict inspection and maintenance programs if their metropolitan air quality does not meet federal standards. It is not mandated in the territory.
Browne said, “A basic I/M program should be implemented in conjunction with annual vehicle registration/inspection.” He said it should be done both to protect the air and to ensure compliance with both the Clean Air Act and local law.
As of 1996, U.S vehicles have to meet strict standards, and the tests are made with computer controlled and monitored emission systems, he said. That works inside the continental U.S., but since there is no guarantee all USVI vehicles were manufactured for U.S. road usage, an additional emissions inspection at the time of registration is required to ensure compliance with V.I. law, Browne said.
Browne recommended adding standard emissions diagnostic testing to the existing annual registration and inspection of vehicles, saying this would simplify and speed the entire process for both drivers and BMV. He projected a cost of $50,000 to purchase diagnostic hardware, and said it would take three additional inspectors and some more laptops. But he said the cost might be possible to hold to the $50,000 in the short run.
"If we do it, it will still be a positive and we should also be eligible for some federal monies," Browne said. If so, the local cost may be very low, he said.
Sanes said the bill would need several amendments before passage and that he would consult with Browne and others to prepare those amendments for addition when it is considered in the Rules and Judiciary Committee, which Sanes chairs.
There was no opposition to the bill.
The committee voted to hold a bill that would give the Public Services Commission broader regulatory powers over the V.I. Water and Power Authority, similar, if not identical to those the WAPA Governing Board currently has. It was held to get testimony from WAPA officials.
The committee also held a bill that would reduce the size and change the composition of the Government Employees’ Service Commission, the volunteer board that negotiates the government’s health insurance contracts.
Present were Sens. Judi Buckley, Terrence "Positive" Nelson, Diane Capehart, Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Donald Cole and Clifford Graham. Noncommittee member Sanes was also present.
What a waste of time and money. We do not have a smog problem.
How about spending the same amount of energy into fixing our roads and other infrastructure.
Chris
One word response to this, “DUMB”
Just another way to screw people out of their money by a corrupt group called the VI Legislature. Time to have another overthrow of the government by the people. Firebrand II
More rules! More regulations! More control! More money! Less freedom! There is NO AIR POLLUTION PROBLEM HERE. Do something worthwhile in the Legislature – fix the crime and fix the roads. Worthless. Simply worthless. Stop taking my money and sticking your collective noses into my life. Better to do nothing than to continue to chip away at the quality of life on island.
You said it, our non productive government has no way of encouraging any economic growth in the Virgin Islands so rather than just increasing taxes they propose this as another basic smoke and mirrors scam to generate revenue to keep themselves and their cronies funded. There are numerous state and county districts that don’t require emissions testing so why should the Virgin Islands? The Clean Air Act has various requirements that are not enforced locally so who is Mr. Sanes trying to fool, your looking for a convenient revenue source…plain and simple!
At a time where we need to be working hard to give the taxpayer a break, this is what the legislature comes up with consistently, a new way to waste our time and money.
They even say it will speed up the process. How in the world will another requirement slow down the process?
Who in the public suggested such a thing? Was it a Senator driving down the road and witnessed a diesel fueled vehicle with a cloud of smoke? Are they going to take the man’s truck away because it’s an older model and that is how they operate.
Are they going to test construction vehicles like backhoes? How about VItran?
Exactly. another reason to expand the bureaucracy. Try enforcing the rules already in place before adding more. It is also another ploy to support the underground mechanism that circumvents the rules. Pay under the table, get the permits without an actual inspection. Net result is money directly into someone’s pocket, no tax revenue on that money, and nothing accomplished to the intent of the laws. When was the last time a window tint was enforced? Only at BWV, never by VIPD on the road. When was a vehicle with no brake lights cited? never, because most of the old vehicles never would pass an actual inspection, since they go they pay under the table route. Try looking at the purpose of the legislature, which is to pass laws and policy that actually help the economy. Make cut backs that mean something. Examine the way business of governing is done, and recognise it is not working. Have the intestinal fortitude to make the tough decisions and the tough changes that are really needed, not this window dressing.
Oh my….. The Carnival never ends! I agree, there are so many things “government” could be doing and this is what they come up with…?? Maybe a take over by the Feds will be the only way to fix things…. No never mind, we have Obummer screwing us on that end!! Let’s just go sailing!!!