Rowland Says Patience Needed

With Emissions Testing Program

By Noreen Gillespie

Associated Press

HARTFORD — Gov. John G. Rowland on Tuesday called for patience with the state’s troubled new emissions testing program, saying the cause of the problems should be identified before deciding whether to keep the testing contractor.

The governor’s comments came on the same day that officials from Chicago-based Agbar Technologies, the testing contractor, tried to reassure members of the legislature’s Transportation Committee that they were doing everything possible to correct the problems. Lawmakers made no decision Tuesday.

“We should try to fix it first,” Mr Rowland said. “First of all, before we pull the contract, we ought to find out what the problems are. And the legislators don’t know what the problems are yet. Is it computer glitches? Is it mismanagement? Are the service stations not following the regulations correctly?”

Some lawmakers have called for the state to suspend the contract with Agbar following a delayed start last fall and erroneous test failures from computer glitches and other problems.

Also, The Hartford Courant reported this week that 621 vehicles initially failed a standard emissions test, but later passed an alternate test that does not measure nitrous oxides. In 143 of those cases, vehicles had failed because of excess nitrous oxides.

DMV officials also have raised questions of possible fraud in about 25 tests with newer cars and trucks.

Speaking to the Transportation Committee, Agbar President Tom Fournier maintained that the company was committed to fulfilling its contract for a program he described as complex.

“Can Agbar promise that there will be absolutely no need for some corrections going forward? No, we cannot,” said Mr Fournier. “No system dependent on software and human hands could be held to that standard.”

If the state does sever the contract, it could lose up to $360 million in federal highway transportation funding, according to Department of Transportation officials. That is because the state would lose pollution credits under federal air quality standards.

Some officials have estimated suspending the contract with due cause would cost an additional $14 million or more.

Several state officials – while admitting the program’s problems – said it needed to be given a chance.

“These programs exist in many states. None of them are flawless. None of them are perfect,” said Jane Stahl, deputy commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Without a testing program in place, the state could try things like lowering the speed limit to 55 miles per hour, placing restrictions on the use of gas grills and lawn mowers, or buying more rail cars to meet federal standards, Ms Stahl said. But none would reduce emissions as well as a testing program, she pointed out.

Department of Motor Vehicles officials also defended the program. Commissioner Gary J. DeFilippo told lawmakers the department was working with Agbar to restore public confidence in the program.

Senator Biagio “Billy” Ciotto (D-Wethersfield), co-chairman of the Transportation Committee, said lawmakers would be reviewing their options. Agbar has until Saturday to submit information on correcting the problems and other data about testing procedures to lawmakers.

Independent auditors are also completing an analysis of the testing system, and reports are due in the coming weeks.

Mr Ciotto said he’d love to get rid of the program. But because of the risk to federal funding, “the most we could do is go with another contractor,” he said.

“It’s not just, ‘Here, you’re done, throw the bums out,’” said Mr Ciotto. “We’re talking about a considerable amount of money here.”

Rep Jacqueline Cocco (D-Bridgeport) warned Agbar officials that while federal funding was an issue, the state could consider ways to proceed without Agbar in the picture.

“We understand nothing is perfect. But we also know the mistakes made up to now were big mistakes,” said Ms Cocco, who is co-chairwoman of the committee.

Sen John McKinney (R-Fairfield) said he had not called for the elimination of the testing program. But he questioned DMV officials’ support of Agbar.

“So far, from where I’m sitting, they’ve messed up three times,” he said, citing the software errors, delays, and wrong testing procedures.

(Associated Press Writer Susan Haigh in Hartford contributed to this report.)