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County opts into Weber State emissions database; OPUS contract sent back for review
Summary
Utah County approved participation in a Weber State-managed vehicle-emissions database to reduce 'unknown' test outcomes for EPA reporting, but commissioners continued consideration of the OPUS testing-equipment contract for two weeks to clarify contract language on minimums and upside caps.
Utah County commissioners voted May 1 to join a Weber State-managed database that will consolidate data from five vehicle-emissions programs and DMV records to reduce the number of tests with unknown outcomes and improve state and EPA reporting.
Ralph Clegg, speaking for the county health department, said Weber State will combine emissions-program data and DMV information so vehicles that fail tests and later register in other counties can still be captured for reporting. "Weber State universities agreed to, take the information, all the data from the 5 vehicle emissions programs in the state, combine it into 1 database, and use the DMV database as well to track vehicles that have an unknown outcome," Clegg said. The county's share of fees was described as commensurate with the size of the program; Utah County will pay the second-largest share behind Salt Lake County.
Commissioner Steve Walder and others asked how the shared data will improve air quality. Air-quality staff said the database will help identify vehicles that disappear from local records — many of which are likely gross emitters or noncompliant — allowing staff to target outreach and enforcement and produce more accurate SIP (state implementation plan) reporting to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Separately, commissioners debated details of the county’s contract with OPUS, the contractor that provides testing equipment and handles online certificate sales. Staff said OPUS keeps $1.20 per certificate and the county receives the remaining revenue; the contract also contains a guaranteed minimum payment to the vendor and language that appeared to set an upside cap on county revenue under some readings. Commissioners asked staff to negotiate clarification of the amendment language and protection against an unintended upside penalty to the county. The commission voted unanimously to continue the OPUS contract item for two weeks to allow staff to negotiate and return updated language for review.
The item to participate in the Weber State database was approved during the regular agenda; discussion and the continuation vote on the OPUS contract followed in the same series of agenda items.
