CLEVELAND — Gov. Mike DeWine is directing the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to end the E-Check vehicle emissions testing program in seven northeast Ohio counties, phasing out a requirement that has applied to motorists in the Cleveland region for decades.
The move follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s redesignation of the Cleveland region as meeting federal air quality standards, according to Spectrum News Ohio. Ohio EPA is expected to begin the regulatory process to wind down the program, though the exact timeline for the final inspections has not yet been announced.
E-Check requires most vehicles in the affected counties to pass an emissions test before license plate renewals. For years, the program has been a periodic source of frustration for drivers, who must take time out to visit testing stations or risk failing to renew their registration.
The Cleveland region’s air quality has improved steadily since the program began, a trend that environmental officials and automakers alike have cited as the program’s legacy. Cleaner cars, stricter federal tailpipe standards and the retirement of older, higher-polluting vehicles all contributed to the improvement.
DeWine’s directive marks the latest step in rolling back the program’s reach. Vehicle owners in the seven counties should continue complying with current testing requirements until Ohio EPA formally ends the program.