ST. LOUIS — Vehicle owners in the St. Louis metro area may soon not have to worry about emissions tests as the Missouri Air Conservation Commission recently voted to seek EPA approval to redesignate the region to an attainment area.  

Missouri residents living in nonattainment areas are required to get emissions testing in order to license their vehicles. Missouri established emissions testing in 1984 to meet EPA national air quality standards, according to a press release by St. Charles County. 

The commission also voted on a maintenance plan for continued compliance for the EPA’s approval. 

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann met with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources staff in support of this effort. The East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGCOG) Board of Directors also has expressed support of the resdesignaton. 

“This has been a long process and it’s not over yet,” Ehlmann said in the press release, “but we continue to bring it to the forefront of those who make the decisions.”