BALTIMORE, MD (December 8, 1999) – The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) will host the19th North American Motor Vehicle Emissions Control Conference (NAMVECC ’99), December 12-15 at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore at the Inner Harbor.

NAMVECC will bring together leaders nationwide from regulatory agencies, industry, the environmental community and academia to exchange and present information on the most recent technological and regulatory developments aimed at reducing emissions from automobiles and other mobile sources.

"Maryland is excited to host this important event," said Maryland Secretary of the Environment Jane Nishida. "The information that will be presented and shared at the conference will convey to environmental experts the most effective ways to protect our nation’s air from pollution related to mobile sources."

The conference is sponsored by the State and Territorial Air Pollution Program Administrators (STAPPA) and the Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials (ALAPCO). Conference topics include smart growth, alternative fuels and fuel strategies, mobile source air toxics, advanced vehicle and emissions control technologies, airport and aircraft emissions, and motor vehicle inspection and maintenance programs.

STAPPA and ALAPCO are the two national associations representing air pollution control agencies in the 55 states and territories and over 165 major metropolitan areas across the United States. The associations encourage the exchange of information among air pollution control officials, to enhance communication and cooperation among regulatory agencies, and to promote effective management of air resources.

"This conference is one of many steps being taken to address reducing emissions from mobile sources," said MDE’s Air and Radiation Director Ann Marie DeBiase. "This gathering will offer practical and common sense solutions that will protect pubic health and the environment."

For more information about NAMVECC ’99, call Dave Filbert at MDE at (410) 631-3270 or visit MDE’s web site at http://mde.maryland.gov.

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