SAN ANTONIO – Tx — SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County is set to begin requiring emissions testing starting Nov. 1, but District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears and Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner Grant Moody are working to make sure the smog test is paused.
“When I learned, the emissions testing wasn’t going to reduce our levels, then I though why am I doing this at all,” Spears said.
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After learning the emissions coming into Bexar County from Mexico are affecting the pollution levels here, Coumcilwoman Spears and Commissioner Moody traveled to Washington D.C. where they met with the Environmental Protection Agency, urging them to reconsider the requirement. After their meeting the EPA wrote a letter to Governor Greg Abbott announcing they are reconsidering emissions testing in Bexar County. Councilwoman Spears says although they are confident emissions testing will be paused by Nov. 1, she says it’s not officially paused because they are waiting for a response from the Texas Commissions on Environmental Quality.
“It’s not paused,” Spears said. “But it is a green light that the TCEQ needed to go ahead and push forward with pausing. So, we’re confident. We’ve inquired with them.”
Spears says once the TCEQ agrees to a pause then the EPA can continue on with their reconsideration. Hector Trevino, the owner of Trevino’s Auto Repair has mixed feelings about the potential pause of emissions testing.
“It’s good for the environment, but it’s bad for the pocket of the people,” Trevino said. “If they look at the computer and the check engine light is on the test does not pass. In order to fix it we’re talking maybe a couple thousand dollars.”
That’s a cost Spears says many people in Bexar County can’t afford. The TCEQ says they are currently evaluating their next steps. We reached out to the Environmental Protection Agency about the potential pause of emissions testing so far, we have not heard back.