Remote Sensing of Vehicle Emissions In Northern Virginia

The 1990 Federal Clean Air Act Amendments require that Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) Programs be implemented in urbanized areas exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and/or carbon monoxide (CO). Also, a program to measure vehicle emissions by remote sensing is required.

The Federal Clean Air Act requires implementation of an enhanced I/M Program, including remote sensing, in the census-defined Washington DC Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). In Virginia, this area includes the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park, and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, and Stafford.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) contracted with Environmental Systems Products (ESP) to conduct studies in the Northern Virginia Enhanced Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Program area. The Remote Sensing Device (RSD) study and a an addendum on Vehicle Opacity, were finalized in February 2003.