SACRAMENTO -- The California Air Resources Board (ARB) will hold a public hearing to consider amendments to the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection Program and Periodic Smoke Inspection Program on Thursday, December 11, 1997 at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will be held at the following location:

Bay Area Air Quality Management District
939 Ellis Street
San Francisco, California 94109

ARB's staff presentation to the Board will address the recently completed SAE J1667 test procedure, which determines excessive exhaust emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. The proposed amendments include the issuance of citations that require immediate repairs and carry civil fines for vehicles determined to be in violation. These programs are designed to reduce excess emissions from heavy-duty vehicles operating in California.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: The SAE J1667 test procedure -- also known as the snap-acceleration test -- will be performed on a heavy-duty diesel truck to demonstrate how the test procedure determines the amount of diesel soot exhaust emitted from a vehicle. These demonstrations will be conducted by ARB staff for members of the press at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the parking lot adjacent to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District building. Additional tests can be performed upon request.