Ohio begins process to eliminate E-Check testing across Northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Tuesday that he directed the Ohio EPA to begin the process to end the E-Check vehicle testing programs in Northeast Ohio.

According to a release from the governor’s office, the move to end the program comes after the U.S. EPA redesigned the region as meeting the federal ozone standard back in June.

The Cleveland area is now designated in attainment for all federal air quality standards.

The release says that the U.S. EPA began mandating testing to reduce ozone in the Cleveland region in the late 1980s, with Ohio formally launching the program in 1996.

The counties where the program is currently active are Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties.

“Decades of work to reduce pollution have finally paid off to the extent that we no longer believe E-Check is needed to maintain federal air quality standards in Northeast Ohio,” said Governor DeWine said in the release.

However, the U.S. EPA needs to approve the proposal to end the program before it can be eliminated.

The Ohio EPA will issue a notice next month that will invite the public to comment on the proposal to end E-Checks.

A public meeting will be held in November to allow for additional input from Northeast Ohio residents and stakeholders, the governor’s office said.

After considering public comments, Ohio EPA will submit its request to the U.S. EPA before the end of the year.

Until then, Ohio will continue operating E-Check until the federal government approves the request to end the program.