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B-166506 1 (1972-06-12)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabjhx0001 and id is 1 raw text is: RESTRICT - t Accouore l Office xce n t Enirnm 01 Protection Agencyby theA) ice of LegAlto vesee the ato r iscmais prpaato of byeretificalnSetion, dat, nd(3 te roedrs Ofte AS COMPTROLLER GENERAL OFTHE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON, CO.C. 20548 B-6 50 ELEASED JUN 12 197 Dear Mr. Chairman: 088 In response to Your request of May 25, 1972 (enc, II), we are submitting a report (enc. I) on our review of (1) the adequacy of the motor vehicle certification procedures of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (2) the capacity of EPA to oversee the auto companies' preparation of certification data, and (3) the procedures of the auto companies for developing the certification data. Following is a summary of the information we obtained relating to the points of interest specified in your letter. These matters are discussed in more detail in the enclosed report. On May 16, 1972, the Ford Motor Company withdrew the four appli- cations it had made to EPA for certification of its 1973 vehicles. Ford officials withdrew their applications because they had discovered that Ford test personnel had performed unauthorized maintenance on pro- totype vehicles being tested for certification. The unauthorized main- tenance had not been reported to EPA as performed, or included in the final applications. Ford officials have attributed the cause of the problem to a lack of proper management control over certification testing. Within Ford, the Engine and Foundry Division had the responsibility for building the certification vehicles, conducting the tests, and compiling the certi- fication data. On May 23, 1972, Ford reorganized and transferred responsibility for prototype certification testing from its Engine and Foundry Division to the Environmental and Safety Engineering Staff. Ford officials told us that Ford would take a number of additional steps to improve manage- ment control over certification vehicles. Our discussions with officials of the General Motors Corporation, the Chrysler Corporation, and the American Motors Corporation disclosed that these companies do not have formal written certification test pro- cedures. But officials from each of the companies stated that i: was unlikely that unauthorized maintenance would be performed on their test fleet vehicles without the knowledge of upper management personnel. The officials told us that EPA personnel did not visit their plants to moni- tor their testing or to inspect their records. 9111 09

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