Deadline nears for Hill employees to report vehicle emissions information Published April 16, 2014 By Barbara Fisher 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- A reminder e-mail will go out in a few days to Hill AFB employees who have not yet reported vehicle emissions information into the Air Force Web-based system called ECARS (Employee-Vehicle Certification and Reporting System). The e-mail, from no-reply@apims.af.mil, will contain a link to ECARS where employees will be prompted to enter information about their driving habits on the base. Employees can enter their information anytime at the ECARS link: https://apims.af.mil/apims/ecars. "Every federal employee, even those who carpool with a spouse or others, is required to go into ECARS to comply with this new requirement," said Glenn Palmer, Hill's air quality program manager with the 75th Civil Engineer Group. Employees were sent an e-mail in late January notifying them of a 30-day deadline to enter information in the new system. That deadline was later extended until May 1 in accordance with the memorandum of agreement signed by Air Force Materiel Command and the American Federation of Government Employees Council 214. Palmer said more than 50 percent of base employees have complied with the new requirement. "Those employees who have completed the certification do not need to re-enter their vehicle data," he said. "Bottom line - if you don't get the reminder e-mail, you don't need to worry about it." ECARS is part of the Air Force Vehicle Self-Certification Program, which brings the Air Force in compliance with the Clean Air Act, Section 118d. This statute requires all federal (both military and civilian) employees to meet the Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Program requirements where the member is employed. Hill is one of approximately 60 Air Force bases requiring employees to use ECARS. The requirement went into effect in July 2012 and has been phased in at bases since then. "This affects Air Force bases in areas of the country that struggle to meet air quality requirements," Palmer said. "As everyone who has been in Utah during one of the winter inversions knows, Utah is one of the states dealing with poor air quality at times." Hill AFB is considered to be located within the Vehicle I/M Program area for Davis County, Utah. In Davis County, vehicle owners are required to have a current emissions certificate for their vehicle. "No matter where in Utah you reside or in what state the vehicle is registered, an emissions certificate is now required for your vehicle if you drive the vehicle on the base more than 60 days per year," Palmer said. There are some exemptions to having an emissions certificate. Hill contractors and retirees (who are not current federal employees) are not required to use ECARS. Other exemptions include: · Vehicles 1967 model year or older · Vehicles with a diesel engine · Motorcycles · Vehicles purchased brand-new by current owner less than two years ago · Vehicles not driven on Hill AFB 60 days or more a year · Vehicles registered as vintage, collectible, classic or street rod · Electric, hybrid or hydrogen vehicles · Some natural gas vehicles, model year 2005 and newer · Vehicles with a qualified repair waiver Locally, Davis, Weber, Salt Lake, Cache and Utah counties all offer emission testing at many auto repair shops or garages. Average cost for the test is approximately $25, according to Utah's Motor Vehicle Division website. The website said there is also an additional Emission Program Fee that each of the four counties charge. The fee varies from $1 to $3. For technical questions about the ECARS website or connection problems, Palmer recommends calling the toll-free number for ECARS, (800) 274-4406. For other information about ECARS, contact Palmer at (801) 775-6918, glenn.palmer.1@us.af.mil, Barbara Fisher at (801) 775-3652 barbara.fisher.1@us.af.mil or Mark Kaschmitter at (801) 775-2359, mark.kaschmitter.ctr@us.af.mil.