How to submit a public comment on Ohio's E-Check Ease Act
The E-Check Ease Act, introduced by state Reps. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Township), was incorporated into the state's biennial transportation budget bill signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine at the end of March.
PHOTOS: Truck goes off road, US 422 ramp closed
Under Ohio's E-Check program, residents in seven counties — Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit — who own cars that are between 4 and 25 years old are required to have their emissions inspected every two years. A passing inspection is required for vehicle registration in those seven counties.
The proposed change would expand the exemption for newer cars from four years old to six years old. Hybrid vehicles that are seven years old or newer would also be exempt.
The bill also allows vehicle owners to forego inspections entirely and obtain an 'alternative emissions certificate' from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, attesting that their car meets state emissions laws 'to the best of their knowledge.'
That attestation could be rejected if the EPA determines it was falsified or if the driver was cited in the past two years for excessive exhaust or a noisy muffler, or if their vehicle was in a collision in the prior two years which caused 'substantial' internal damage. Rejected owners would then have to get the car inspected.
The Ohio EPA is required to submit the new certification process to the U.S. EPA, which must decide whether it complies with the federal Clean Air Act before it can move ahead. If approved, the Ohio EPA would then implement the state-level changes.
The public comment period for the bill opened earlier this month and runs through June 2. Public comments can be emailed to DAPC-Comments@epa.ohio.gov through then. The Ohio EPA is then expected to respond to the public comments and submit the changes to the U.S. EPA.
'For 30 years, Northeast Ohio has been unfairly burdened by E-Check,' Roemer is quoted in a Wednesday news release. 'It is far past time to address this problem, and I encourage citizens to reach out to eviscerate this burden.'
Bond set at $2 million as Aliza Sherman's alleged killer appears in court: I-Team
State Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) in a Wednesday news release said the E-Check program 'may have been well-intentioned' when it was created in 1996, but there's no evidence it has actually reduced vehicle emissions since then.
He said drivers actually burn about 600,000 gallons of gas per year just to comply with the mandate.
'The $11 million the state spends would be better spent on conservation education and public transit,' he is quoted in the release.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
10 hours ago
- UPI
DR Congo, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels sign declaration of peace
1 of 2 | Corneille Nangaa (center), the leader of the political-military Alliance Fleuve Congo and M23 President Bertrand Bisimwa (second from right) arrive to participate in a cleanup exercise of the city of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo on February 1. File photo by EPA July 19 (UPI) -- The Democratic Republic of Congo and M23 rebels backed by Rwanda signed a declaration of peace after nearly four years of fighting in Central Africa. The signing took place in Doha, Qatar, three weeks after Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement in Washington, D.C., that didn't involve the rebels, who emerged in 2012. There have been 30 years of conflict between the two nations. The BBC obtained a copy of the declaration, which must follow the Washington Accords brokered by the United States. At the White House, both sides agreed to recognize and respect each other's territorial borders, committed to not supporting any armed groups and to establish a joint security mechanism to target militias. And they plan to expand trade and investment opportunities, including U.S. access to critical minerals. Massad Boulos, the U.S. special envoy for Africa, witnessed Saturday's agreement. In the accord brokered by Qatar officials, both sides agreed to "resolve their disputes by peaceful means" by July 9 with a final peace deal by Aug 18. "The parties acknowledge that peace, security and stability are essential to increase development opportunities, improve living conditions and protect human dignity," the accord said. Also, there is a commitment to reinstate state authority in eastern Congo. The deal took the government's "red line" into account, including the "non-negotiable withdrawal" of M23 from occupied areas, according to DR Congo spokesman Patrick Muyatya. But M23 negotiator Benjamin Mbonimpa said in a video the deal didn't mention a pullout African Union Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called the declaration a "major milestone in the ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region. Congo Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe appeared at a signing ceremony in the White House's Oval Office on June 27. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Qatar began negotiations with the two foreign ministers in April. The agreement was announced by the State Department on June 18. "At least 6 million people were killed during that period of time," Trump said at signing. "It's incredible. And somebody said that was actually, it's the biggest war on the planet since World War II. It's a shame but we're going to bring it to an end." Around 7 million people have been displaced in Congo, which has a population of 106 million. Rwanda's population is 14 million. They both gained independence from Belgium in the early 1960s. Congo has agreed to "neutralize" the rebels in eastern Congo. They are linked to perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide of more than 800,000 Tutsis and Hutus. In January, M-23 rebels were aided by Rwandan forces in escalating the conflict, according to a United Nations expert panel.
Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Newsweek
Trump Admin Announces New Restrictions on Mexican Airlines Over US
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced a series of new regulatory measures restricting Mexican airlines in the United States. The measures were announced Saturday in an effort to "to combat Mexico's blatant disregard of the 2015 U.S.-Mexico Air Transport Agreement and its ongoing anti-competitive behavior," according to a press release from the DOT. Newsweek has reached out to Mexico's Secretaría de Infraestructura, Comunicaciones y Transportes (Transport Department) for comment via email on Saturday afternoon. Why It Matters The 2015 agreement was designed to liberalize market access and promote fair competition between carriers from both countries. Mexico is accused of violating the agreement since 2022 when "it abruptly rescinded slots and then forced U.S. all-cargo carriers to relocate operations" from Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City. The U.S. government says this has disrupted trade flows, increased operational costs for U.S. businesses, and raised concerns about market competition. Mexico is the top foreign destination for Americans with more than 40 million passengers flying there last year, the Associated Press reported. What To Know Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Saturday that "[former President] Joe Biden and [former Transportation Secretary] Pete Buttigieg deliberately allowed Mexico to break our bilateral aviation agreement." Duffy added: "That ends today. Let these actions serve as a warning to any country who thinks it can take advantage of the U.S., our carriers, and our market. America First means fighting for the fundamental principle of fairness." The transportation secretary said his department was issuing the three following orders to stop Mexican airlines from "taking advantage" of the U.S. They include: Requires all Mexican airlines to file detailed schedules for their U.S. operations with the DOT. Mandates prior DOT approval before any large passenger or cargo aircraft charter flights by Mexican carriers can operate to or from the United States. Proposes withdrawing the antitrust immunity previously granted to the joint venture between Delta Air Lines and AeroMexico, citing concerns that Mexico's market interventions have created an unfair competitive environment The DOT claims Mexico rescinded historic slots from three U.S. carriers: American, Delta, and United, as well as three Mexican airlines: AeroMexico, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris, at Benito Juárez International Airport in 2022 under "the pretense" of capacity constraints. U.S. officials say they have tried repeatedly to confirm when the slots would be returned, or when major construction work at the Mexican airport would end but were not provided with information on either. In February 2023, the Mexican government published a decree that forced all dedicated cargo operations to relocate from Mexico City International Airport to Felipe Ángeles International Airport, disrupting U.S. cargo routes and prompting industry and diplomatic pushback. The DOT also cited Mexico's failure to implement an internationally recognized and non-discriminatory slot allocation system, contrary to Article 11 of the 2015 air agreement. As of July 2025, U.S.-Mexico diplomatic talks on restoring normal aviation services and upholding bilateral commitments remain ongoing, with no resolution announced. A worker wearing a mask walks past a Boeing 737 Max 9 built for AeroMexico as it is prepared for a flight from Renton Municipal Airport on November 18, 2020, in Renton, Washington. A worker wearing a mask walks past a Boeing 737 Max 9 built for AeroMexico as it is prepared for a flight from Renton Municipal Airport on November 18, 2020, in Renton, Washington. Ted S. Warren/AP What People Are Saying The Department of Transport said in a Saturday statement: "Mexico's actions harm airlines seeking to enter the market, existing competitor airlines, consumers of air travel and products relying on time-sensitive air cargo shipments traded between the two countries, and other stakeholders in the American economy." It added: "The Department is committed to enforcing our agreements to ensure that aviation markets are fair and pro-competitive. What Happens Next If the withdrawal of antitrust immunity is finalized, the Delta-AeroMexico partnership would dissolve its ability to coordinate pricing and share revenue, although Delta could retain its equity stake in AeroMexico and continue independent operations between the two countries. The situation remains dynamic, with ongoing diplomatic discussions and potential for further regulatory adjustments depending on Mexico's responses.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
EVs Pay Off Their Carbon Debt in Just 2 Years
EVs Pay Off Their Carbon Debt in Just 2 Years | BEV Lifecycle Benefits originally appeared on Autoblog. BEVs in the US: The Data Behind the Hype Recent studies confirm that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) deliver a real, measurable climate benefit over gasoline cars—when you look at the full lifecycle. After accounting for all emissions (from manufacturing and battery production to driving and disposal), a U.S.–sold BEV generates 41–71% lower total greenhouse-gas emissions than a comparable gas car, depending on your region's power-grid cleanliness. You can explore these differences yourself with the Union of Concerned Scientists' EV Emissions Tool. As the U.S. electric grid rapidly shifts toward solar, wind, and other renewables documented in the EPA's eGRID database, that climate advantage only grows. Understanding the Lifecycle Manufacturing a BEV carries more carbon upfront — roughly 40% more 'embedded' emissions than building a similar internal-combustion vehicle, thanks largely to battery production and material sourcing. But that carbon 'debt' is normally paid off within the first 25,000–41,000 miles on the road—about two years of typical driving — according to the ICCT's lifecycle analysis. After break-even, every additional mile driven deepens the BEV's lifetime emissions lead. Once on the road, BEVs enjoy zero tailpipe emissions, improving urban air quality and sparing drivers from gasoline pollution. Charging emissions depend on your local energy mix: in states with cleaner grids—think California, New York, or Oregon—driving an EV matches or beats even the most efficient gasoline models. In fact, as of 2025, 93% of Americans live in areas where powering an EV produces fewer emissions than a 50+ MPG hybrid, as shown by the DOE's AFDC calculator. Why BEVs Keep Getting Cleaner The grid is cleaning up fast: renewables supply an ever-growing share of U.S. electricity while coal falls to historic lows. At the same time, advanced battery plants are increasingly powered by renewables, and shifting supply chains further cut upstream emissions. Battery-recycling systems are also scaling up — part of the Department of Energy's push on battery materials and recycling — which will shrink the footprint of future BEVs even This Means for Drivers and Policymakers For consumers, the takeaway is clear: a new BEV will become a net climate benefit within its first couple of years on the road, and low energy-per-mile costs plus reduced maintenance mean real savings, too. For policy planners, accelerating clean-energy deployment, expanding charging infrastructure, and supporting local battery supply and recycling will only widen the advantage BEVs hold over gas cars. Ultimately, in the U.S. today, buying a battery-electric vehicle isn't just choosing a cleaner option—it's choosing one that gets cleaner every month the grid decarbonizes. EVs Pay Off Their Carbon Debt in Just 2 Years | BEV Lifecycle Benefits first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
