International Conference Examines Clean Air Technology for the Year 2001

National and international air-quality experts, government analysts, industry representatives and environmentalists will discuss technology for cleaner air and more at the 14th Annual Mobile Sources/Clean Air Conference in Breckenridge, Colo., Sept. 15-18.

The event will attract more than 350 participants and is regarded as the premier conference in the nation which addresses air pollution from vehicle emissions. The three-day conference is sponsored by the National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety, part of the College of Applied Human Sciences at Colorado State University.

"The annual conference is an opportunity for national and international experts to share insights and expertise," said Birgit Wolff, director of the National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety. "This year’s event will focus on year 2001 technology vehicles. These are vehicles with built-in computers called on-board diagnostics. The computers alert drivers when their cars’ emissions are high. Conference sessions will examine on-board diagnostics and their role in the clean air programs of the future."

Featured sessions include panel presentations, round-table discussions, case studies and thought-provoking debates. In the past, the conference has attracted participants and speakers from across the United States and from countries around the world, including Canada, Mexico, England, Germany and others.

The conference will kick off Sept. 15 at 2 p.m. with a panel session and group discussion moderated by Marty Keller of the Bureau of Automotive Repair in California. The session, "Repair Effectiveness in a Loaded Mode World," will involve automotive repair industry representatives, government regulators, auto manufacturers and repair equipment manufacturers. Participants will explore ways for auto repairs to be made effectively and in compliance with the new emissions testing technology.

Other sessions will include discussion of remote sensing, a technology that would allow a vehicle’s identification and emissions status to be reported to a remote location.

Highlighted sessions follow.

* Lenora Bohren of Colorado State’s National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety will moderate a discussion titled "International Vehicle Emissions Issues Update." The session will include panelists from Cairo, Taiwan and Mexico.

* Mark Carlock of the State of California EPA will moderate a panel discussion called "On-Board Diagnostics II Implementation and Inspection and Maintenance Test Issues."

* Participants will compete in "The Great American Auto Emissions and Environment Quiz, Part II."

* Bob and Sonia Vogl of Northern Illinois University will present a session on "Pollution Prevention."

* Jim Kemper of Colorado State’s National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety will moderate a session on "Updates to Enhanced Vehicle Emissions Testing." Participants will include representatives from the U.S. EPA, Subaru, Sierra Research and more.

The National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety opened in 1976 and is the nation’s only university-based center devoted exclusively to the study of light-duty vehicle emissions control. The National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety recently established on-board diagnostics center through funding from a major federal grant.