Most NC counties may finally lose annual car emissions tests. Mecklenburg won’t
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- EPA proposed lifting federal emissions testing for 18 counties, but Mecklenburg remains.
- If finalized, emissions inspections would still apply in Mecklenburg under state law.
- Under 2023 law, Mecklenburg’s testing will phase out by 2036.
Mecklenburg County drivers could become the only motorists in North Carolina still required to pass annual vehicle emissions inspections.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week proposed approving North Carolina’s request to remove emissions-testing requirements from the state’s federally approved clean air plan, potentially paving the way for the long-delayed end of emissions inspections in 18 counties across the state.
But Mecklenburg County will remain the lone exception under state law, even though it was included in the EPA proposal.
The proposal follows a provision in the 2023 state budget that sought to eliminate emissions inspections in all but Mecklenburg County. However, the emissions program is part of North Carolina’s federally approved State Implementation Plan, and the changes could not take effect until EPA approval and final implementation by the state.
That means emissions inspections are still currently required in 19 counties, including Mecklenburg, Wake, Durham, Union and Cabarrus, according to the NC Department of Environmental Quality and NC Division of Motor Vehicles.
If the EPA finalizes the proposal after a 30-day public comment period, emissions inspections would end in 18 counties while Mecklenburg drivers would still be required to complete the annual tests. That’s because of the proposal in the 2023 state budget.
“Although the federal emissions testing requirement would be lifted for all counties in North Carolina if this proposal is finalized, Mecklenburg County would still continue to implement an emissions testing program under state law,” EPA said in a statement Monday.
Annual safety inspections would still be required statewide.
The EPA said North Carolina demonstrated that removing emissions testing would not interfere with compliance with federal clean air standards. The agency pointed to long-term improvements in air quality and reduced emissions over time.
“EPA is committed to eliminating unnecessary burdens to make testing more convenient and affordable for drivers and ensuring clean air for all Americans,” EPA Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber said in a statement.
According to EPA, North Carolina has been in compliance with all applicable air quality standards for a decade. The agency also said ending emissions testing in the affected counties could save North Carolina motorists nearly $20 million annually in inspection costs.
Why Mecklenburg is different
Mecklenburg County has long occupied a unique position in North Carolina’s emissions-testing program because of air-quality concerns tied to the Charlotte region.
Lawmakers behind the 2023 legislation argued most North Carolina counties improved enough to meet federal air-quality standards, making emissions testing unnecessary, according to previous reporting by The Charlotte Observer.
But Mecklenburg remained the only county where lawmakers chose to preserve the requirement, citing ongoing air-quality concerns.
State Sen. Steve Jarvis, a Republican who sponsored earlier legislation related to the issue, previously described the proposal as a way to ease costs on drivers while recognizing Mecklenburg’s different air-quality status.
However, the county’s emissions program may not last forever.
Shawn Taylor, a spokesperson for DEQ’s Division of Air Quality, said the 2023 measure also changed which vehicles qualify for emissions inspections in Mecklenburg County. Under the revised law, only vehicles “within 20 years of the current year and earlier than the 2017 model year” would be subject to testing once the changes take effect.
“A consequence of this change is that no vehicle in Mecklenburg County will continue to be subject to the emissions inspections after 2036,” Taylor said in an email to The Charlotte Observer.
Taylor said EPA’s proposal remains under review and no immediate changes have taken effect.
The timeline for implementation will depend on EPA’s review process and response to public comments, according to DEQ. If EPA finalizes the proposal, changes would take effect on “the first day of a month that is 60 days after” the DEQ secretary formally certifies EPA approval to state officials, Taylor said.
Vehicle emissions testing in North Carolina began in Mecklenburg County in 1982 before eventually expanding to dozens of counties statewide, according to EPA. The state has gradually rolled back the program over the last several years as air quality improved.
