The Nation - News from Dec. 16, 1986

Tampering with smog-control equipment on cars and misuse of leaded gasoline are on the decline, the Environmental Protection Agency said. The EPA, reporting on its annual survey of cars and light trucks in use in 15 urban areas, said it found that anti-pollution systems on 20% of the vehicles examined had been altered, down from 22% last year, and that the rate of “misfueling” had fallen to 10% from 14% in the 1985 survey. It said the figures tended to be lower in localities that have regular emissions inspections.