Nellis implements federal Clean Air Act initiative Published May 7, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Jake Carter 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The Air Force has implemented a new program called Employee-vehicle Certification and Reporting System that will begin June 1. The 99th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental Quality office will roll out the new requirement for all base federal employees to certify that their vehicles comply with the emissions standards for Nevada. This is a federal Clean Air Act initiative. ECARS is designed to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act Section 118 (d), that requires privately-owned vehicles operated by federal employees on federal facilities be in compliance with the emission standards for the vehicle inspection and maintenance program area wherein the federal installation as a way to keep the environment safe. ECARS is a module under the Air Program Information Management System. APIMS is the Air Force information system for air quality permit management, air emission inventory and air emission reporting. "The Clean Air Act requires military and non-contractor civilian federal employees [to sign up for ECARS] who work in "non-attainment" areas, or places the Environmental Protection Agency deem to have poor air quality," said Fred Zorbas, 99th CES air quality manager for Nellis and Creech AFBs. "Clark County [is targeted to] minimize their contribution to pollution." The new program, targets members that drive privately-owned vehicles on the installation for over 60 days per year to certify their vehicle through ECARS. Signing up for the program will start on June 1, the registration will only take a few minutes online. An ECARS email will instruct all base federal employees how to enter vehicle information, and certify as required. "Most people won't be required to do anything that they aren't already doing except spend approximately 60 seconds certifying their compliance with local vehicle inspection and maintenance requirement in ECARS," Zorbas said. "Self-certification is done right at your desk with your common access card and is usually only required every 12 months." Military members that have vehicles registed in other states will also have to partake in the new ECARS program. "Vehicles owned by active duty personnel registered in other states will be required to meet the local smog testing requirements in addition to registering," said William Spoerer, 99th CES environmental element chief. When the program starts, people will have 30 days to answer the ECARS questions. If people decide not to register in ECARS, they potentially risk losing driving privileges on base. "All Nellis AFB service members and civilian federal employees will automatically receive an ECARS email requiring annual re-registration," Zorbas said. Members who do not drive on a federal installation for at least 60 days each year still must report their applicability in ECARS. "Creech AFB personnel are not required to participate, nor do their active duty members that live in Nellis AFB housing [because the area is deemed, clean air]," Spoerer said. If you have any questions, please direct them to 99 CES Air Quality Team at NellisAirQuality@nellis.af.mil.
