The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, December 10, 1994            TAG: 9412100229
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                         LENGTH: Short :   29 lines

EPA AGREES TO EASE TOUGH REQUIREMENTS FOR EMISSIONS TESTS

The Clinton administration, seeking to blunt some states' revolts about new air pollution controls, has agreed to ease its requirements for more stringent and costly automobile tailpipe emissions testing.

EPA Administrator Carol Browner promised a group of governors that they would be given more flexibility in meeting the new vehicle-testing regulations as long as the overall pollution-reduction levels are met, officials said Friday.

A requirement for more sophisticated testing of automobile tailpipe emissions has been controversial in a number of Eastern states, including Virginia, where motorists have protested the increased cost and inconvenience.

``We're still insisting that you get the 15 percent reductions (in pollution) that you're required to get,'' said Nancy Sutley, a special assistant to Browner for clean-air issues. by CNB