The pollution patrol is on the prowl, driving around Eugene until Saturday, and any driver may voluntarily be subject to its test.
However, enforcement is not on this patrol’s agenda. Aside from a large sign flashing either a green light, meaning the car passes emissions standards, or a red light, which indicates failure, this group from the Department of Environmental Quality is interested only in observing the environmental situation in Oregon and comparing emissions levels of different cities.
“We are basically informing the public how their cars are running,” said Nancy Meyer, a vehicle inspector with DEQ.
The white van and accompanying equipment that has been parked outside Gateway Mall for the past two days and that is now on Coburg Road is part of a three-month trip around Oregon by DEQ. Using Remote Emissions Testing, it is gathering data about emission levels around the state, while also letting the public know how its cars stack up environmentally.
In the Portland-metro area, cars are required to pass tests of emissions standards at clean-air stations. Elsewhere in the state, there is no such requirement.
The DEQ trip is also evaluating whether it is a good idea to use this technology in Portland for a sort of “clean screen.”
Testing units could possibly be set up on freeway ramps, said Brian Larcen, a DEQ vehicle inspector. If a car passes the tests a certain number of times, it could automatically be excluded from having to go to the clean-air stations. Owners would be sent vouchers letting them know they were in the clear, which would in turn cut down on congestion at the stations.
“If we could use this as kind of a ‘clean-screen,’ then it would be more economical,” said Mickey Hunt, ATETP/Fleet manager with DEQ.
The DEQ is not trying to institute similar tests around the state by visiting different cities, nor is it trying to punish owners whose cars do not meet standards.
“The goal is to find out if a non-emission test area has the same basic emissions as an area like Portland,” Hunt said.
The technology includes a Source Detection Module that sends ultraviolet and infrared light rays across a lane of traffic into a mirror, which in turn sends the rays back. The rays then analyze the exhaust plume left behind by the car for the amount of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide. This indicates whether emission levels are below the standard used in Portland.
If it is, the car passes with low emission, and the driver is rewarded with a green light and a message: “saving you money.” If it gets a high or medium grade, then the driver is reminded that his or her car is “costing you money.”
Additionally, a camera also takes a picture of the car’s license plate and another piece of equipment records the car’s speed. All of this information is sent to the van to be crunched and compared to other cities.
This information is helpful to have, DEQ’s Larcen said, because it gives a good broad-based feel for how Oregon is doing overall as far as emissions standards go.
“If we get nothing but ‘passes’ in Portland, it’s not really data,” Larcen said.
Right now the only numbers crunched have been those in Bend. With just more than 9,000 cars tested, there was about a 25 percent failure rate as opposed to a 12 percent failure rate in Portland, Hunt said. Here in Eugene, he said they are probably looking at about a 15-20 percent failure rate.
The Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority handles air quality in Lane County, and DEQ handles it everywhere else in the state. When LRAPA heard about what the DEQ was doing with the Remote Emissions testing, it immediately wanted to become involved.
The data obtained will be used strictly for comparisons. Neither the DEQ nor LRAPA plan to institute a testing system in Lane County; LRAPA simply wants the information to see how the area is doing in comparison to other areas around the state.
“It’s just a good snapshot to let us know what the vehicle fleet of Lane County is,” said Kim Metzler, public affairs manager with LRAPA.
Another part of the testing trip, Larcen said, is simple public relations and letting people know what’s going on.
“We’ve had a wonderful reception down here,” said Pat Petty, DEQ vehicle inspector. “So many people really are in favor of clean air.”
The trip is planned to last for three months. Beginning in Redmond, the van has spent time in Bend, Salem and Woodburn. It will be in Eugene until Saturday, and then the journey will end.
The journey is slated for only three months because the DEQ must soon return it to the University of Georgia, where it was created. This testing system has been around for about 10 years.
After spending today and Friday on Coburg Road off Beltline East, the van will be moved to another location off Exit 194B at I-5 on Saturday.