Emissions program eCARS begins Sept. 12 Published Sept. 9, 2014 By Mark Wyatt 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Service members and Defense Department civilian employees who drive their personally-owned vehicle on base more than 60 times each year must begin participating in the Air Force Vehicle Self-Certification Program beginning this month. As all federal installations need to comply with the Clean Air Act, the program requires employees to comply with the statute that regulates emissions from POVs driven on federal installations. "For many living in New England, the process will be simple," said Robert Spelfogel, 66th Air Base Group Air Quality Program manager. "Employees who drive POVs on base which already meet Massachusetts emission standards, will only need to complete the self-certification annually." Hanscom employees will begin receiving emails Sept. 12 with instructions on how to report their current POV emissions inspection information in the Employee-vehicle Certification And Reporting System, or eCARS. eCars is a web-based system designed to monitor and track compliance. Employees have 30 days following receipt of the email to complete the self-certification, Spelfogel said. Vehicles registered outside the local area which have not been inspected under similar standards may be required to obtain a local emission test to demonstrate compliance. "The eCARS website will guide employees through the process," Spelfogel said. "Each individual circumstance will be easily addressed." Commanders are required to ensure that personnel comply with the eCARS program.. Delinquency and non-compliant reports will be sent to commanders and/or directors for follow-up. Employees who fail to comply are subject to administrative action, which may result in loss of driving privileges on base, said Lt. Col. Michael Morales, 66th Security Forces Squadron commander. There are a few exceptions as Hanscom contractors, non-appropriated fund, or NAF, employees and retirees who are not federal employees are not required to use eCARS. Vehicles that are 1967 model year or older, vehicles with diesel engines, motorcycles and vehicles registered as vintage, collectible or classic are also exempt. For further information on the eCARS program, contact the Hanscom Environmental Office at 66ABG.CEIE.HanscomCommuters@us.af.mil. To learn about commuting options available to employees, visit the new HanscomRIDES commuter SharePoint site at https://cs.eis.afmc.af.mil/sites/Hanscom/commuter/default.aspx. Following are websites outlining vehicle emissions programs in Massachusetts and surrounding states. Click on the applicable state emission requirements to learn more. Massachusetts: http://massvehiclecheck.state.ma.us/motorist_emissions.html Connecticut: http://ctemissions.com/ Maine: http://www.maine.gov/dep/air/mobile/enhancedautoinsp.html New Hampshire: http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/registration/inspections-emissions/ Rhode Island: http://www.riinspection.org/ Vermont: http://dmv.vermont.gov/safety/laws/emissions