The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is expecting to collect $180,000 in fees for vehicle emissions testing in Canyon County, which is expected to start June 1.  That money would go to help run the program, which will require about 20 vans to run the emissions test.  Each vehicle could see a fee of up to $20 for a test that would be required every other year.

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) Wednesday approved the $180,000 in spending authority for emissions testing.  It’s part of a DEQ effort to increase air quality in the Treasure Valley by reducing the amount of ground-level or “bad” ozone.  Neighboring Ada County currently has vehicle emissions testing.  According to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), about half of all bad ozone comes from motor vehicles.

Canyon County commissioners have said they won’t comply with the emissions testing for county vehicles, calling the refusal to submit to testing an act of civil disobedience.  Rep. Steve Kren, R-Nampa, tried to pass legislation that would have stopped the Canyon County testing, but that effort was rejected by a House committee Feb. 24.