Clean-Air Conference Examines Air Quality Problems and Solutions in Colorado and Around the Nation

The National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety at Colorado State University will present the 15th annual Mobile Sources/Clean Air Conference Sept. 14-17 at the Snowmass Conference Center in Snowmass Village, Colo.

The conference will bring together air-quality specialists, government experts, industry representatives and environmentalists from across the U.S. and several other countries.

The conference is designed to build a partnership among groups with a common commitment to finding solutions to air pollution problems. Participants will discuss a wide range of crucial and timely issues, including fuels and alternative energy, transportation issues, the effect of vehicle emissions on health and welfare and vehicle inspection and maintenance programs.

"This event brings together the foremost experts on air pollution," said Birgit Wolff, director of the National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety. "It provides an open forum to discuss the newest technology and policy, and it creates an opportunity to discuss solutions to the ever-growing vehicle emissions problem."

Highlights of the conference include a presentation on Y2K contingency plans, a panel discussion on the human dimension of vehicle inspection and maintenance, and an evaluation of current vehicle inspection and maintenance programs. The conference also will include the following panel presentations, case studies, demonstrations and debates.

Sept. 14

* Noon-8 p.m., registration, sessions and opening reception

Sept. 15

*9 a.m.-noon " I/M of the Future" "Y2K Contingency Plans" "Tier 2 Standards"

*1:30-5 p.m. "Centralized Inspection and Maintenance Program Implement" "Decentralized/Hybrid I/M Program Implementation" "OEM Service Information via WWW" "Waste Minimization in the Auto Shop"

September 16

*8:30 a.m.-noon "Human Dimensions in Inspection and Maintenance Panel" "Ask Your EPA" "Fuel Cells" "How to Get Support for Inspection and Maintenance for Free?" "Mobile 6" "Case and ASE Career File/Training Registry"

* Noon-5 p.m "The Great North American Emissions & Environment Quiz – Year III" "Inspection and Maintenance Program Evaluation" Hands-on demonstration sessions "CSU – On-board diagnostics II Research and Training Center Project Update" "Technician Mentoring Programs" "GLOBAL Solar Report Card" "Remote Sensing Technology Update" "After-Market Side of On-board diagnostics" "On-board diagnostics II Project Update"

Sept. 17

*8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. "Results of On-board diagnostics II Research" "On-board diagnostics II Mini-Workshop"

The conference is sponsored by the National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety, a research and training center at Colorado State University. The center is in the department of manufacturing technology and construction management and part of the College of Applied Human Sciences.

The National Center for Vehicle Emissions Control and Safety was established in 1976 by the EPA, 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 an on-board diagnostics and research center through funding from a major federal grant.

For more information, call (970) 491-7240.