THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 

                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994                    TAG: 9406050048 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: B14    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: 940605                                 LENGTH: RICHMOND

EPA DEMAND PROMPTS CHANGE IN EMISSIONS TEST

{LEAD} Virginia will avoid Environmental Protection Agency sanctions by complying with the agency's demand to devise a new method of testing vehicle emissions, the state transportation secretary said.

Robert Martinez said Virginia will do whatever it takes to avoid a shutdown of future Northern Virginia road projects, including $132 million in road improvements for the planned Disney's America theme park in Prince William County.

{REST} ``We are not going to let our citizens suffer,'' Martinez said Friday. ``We will not allow sanctions to hit Virginia.''

The EPA last week threatened to halt the planned projects if the state doesn't submit a suitable plan for car emissions tests in 30 days.

Martinez said the state will avoid federal punishment even if it means capitulating to the EPA's demand to use a different car-testing method.

Currently local garages do emissions tests and the needed repairs. But the EPA says Virginia must switch to a program where testing is done at one site and repairs at another.

The EPA says test-and-repair programs at local garages aren't as effective in cutting pollution because some mechanics overlook problems to keep customers happy.

The administration of former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder pledged to start the ``test-only'' plan in 1995. But new Gov. George F. Allen changed the plan and said local garages would continue doing tests and repairs.

Administration officials said Virginia initially will propose the test-and-repair plan, despite EPA's misgivings, within the 30-day deadline. Martinez indicated state officials will revise the proposed system if EPA rejects the initial proposal.

But Natural Resources Secretary Becky Dunlop showed unwillingness to change the plan.

``We believe our plan will be approved, and that's about as far as I'm willing to go,'' Dunlop said.

EPA Region III administrator Peter Kostmayer welcomed Martinez' remarks.

``That's good news,'' Kostmayer said. A test-only system ``would not impose a hardship on Virginia but will bring Virginia into compliance.''

The EPA gave Virginia the 30-day ultimatum because the state broke its promise on how it would cut air pollution, then gave no sign of changing course, Kostmayer said.

by CNB