The state Senate voted on Tuesday to end the requirement for gas-powered passenger cars, vans, and light-duty trucks less than nine years old to have an annual emissions inspection.

It was part of a four-bill package aimed at modernizing the emission inspection rules in the state that were put in place to reduce air pollution. However, most of the bills require the approval of the federal Environmental Protection Agency before they could take effect.

Other bills in the package would move to a two-year emissions inspection requirement on vehicles 9 years old or older; eliminate the emission inspection requirement in Blair, Cambria, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mercer, and Westmoreland counties because they have met air quality standards; and change the emissions testing method used on older vehicles in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to a gas cap and visual inspection.

The bills now go to the House for consideration. House Republican spokesman Mike Straub said discussions are ongoing as to when the House will consider them.

Democratic senators opposed the package of bills.

Caucus spokeswoman Brittany Crampsie explained, “It violates the Clean Air Act. Pennsylvania was already sued to comply with the [federal] Clean Air Act in the early 2000s. We came up with a State Implementation Plan to agree with what the Feds did. These bills would violate that agreement. We could lose around $420 million in Federal Highway dollars if we violate the terms of” that agreement.

When the bills were considered in the Senate Transportation Committee, Democratic members raised that issue as well. But Republican members saw it as modernizing the state’s emission inspection rules. About eliminating the inspections on newer vehicles, committee Chairwoman Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, said few of them fail the inspection and this move could save some motorists about $40 a year.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

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