Lawmakers Ask EPA For Time

 To Fix Emissions Testing Program

HARTFORD (AP) — Lawmakers asked federal environmental officials Tuesday to give Connecticut time to fix its emissions testing program, and not threaten to take away federal funding because of the suspension.

In a letter to Robert Varney, the regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, lawmakers said pressure from the agency seems to be pushing them into resuming “an emissions testing program that clearly does not work.”

Mr Varney said last month that Connecticut could be in jeopardy of losing federal highway funds and other sanctions if it does not have a testing program in place. The state gets about $400 million in federal highway funds.

“An emissions testing program is an essential part of improving Connecticut’s air quality,” lawmakers wrote, adding “until the current emissions testing program have been completely resolved, it is not feasible to restart the program.”

The letter was signed by Transportation Committee leaders Rep Jacqueline Cocco, D-Bridgeport, and Sen Biagio Ciotto, D-Wethersfield, and Speaker of the House Moira Lyons and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin Sullivan.

State officials suspended the six-month-old emission program, run by Agbar Technologies, on April 21 for up to 90 days over concerns about the accuracy of test results, improper testing by some inspectors, and the possibility that hundreds of drivers may have paid for unnecessary repairs.

But an independent audit last month found that the program could be restarted soon if operators move quickly to fix problems in the program.