Employees have until May 1 to report vehicle emissions information

  • Published
  • By Barbara Fisher
  • 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Hill AFB employees now have until May 1 to report vehicle emissions information into the new Air Force Web-based system called ECARS (Employee-Certification and Reporting System), in accordance with the memorandum of agreement signed by Air Force Materiel Command and the American Federation of Government Employees Council 214.

An email from no-reply@apims.af.mil was sent to Hill employees the week of Jan. 27 notifying them to go into ECARS and complete vehicle emissions testing self-certification within 30 days.

"Rather than 30 days to enter the information into ECARS, you will now have until May 1 to self-certify," said Glenn Palmer, Hill's air quality program manager with the 75th Civil Engineer Group. "Those employees who have completed the certification already do not need to re-enter their vehicle data."

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 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.

"This means that 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, he noted. 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
"Regardless of whether or not a vehicle is exempt, all employees, even those who carpool, will still need to go into ECARS to complete the self-certification process," Palmer said. "ECARS provides the option to select an exemption that is valid for Hill AFB. If further action is required, the system will prompt employees to do so."

Palmer said Hill is one of approximately 60 Air Force bases required to implement ECARS because it is located in an area of the country that struggles to meet air quality requirements.

Locally, Davis, Weber, Salt Lake 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 more information about ECARS, contact Palmer at (801) 775-6918, glenn.palmer.1@us.af.mil or Mark Kaschmitter at (801) 775-2359, mark.kaschmitter.ctr@us.af.mil.