European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 14, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday. November 14, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 9 army Epa near agreement on cars some could keep catalytic converters in Bureau Washington tin army and the Environ mental Protection Agency arc inching inward agreement on .1 polity to allow Semcer members to keep catalytic converters on cars shipped to Europe the Epa has tentatively approved the plan which would initially cover vehicles shipped to Germany and the Netherlands where unleaded fuel is available. The Epa would consider including other countries on a Case by Casc basis. Army officials who Hope to have inc policy in place by Nickl Spring or summer met with Epa represent a lives nov. 9. Bul a number of issues still must be resolved before the Agency Wil give its final approval. The army is responsible for registering Servit Mcm Bers cars in Germany and the Netherlands. We re talking Ghoul nuts and bolls right now said cot. . Christian a flee transportation management div under the army Deputy chief of staff for logistics. We still have to Iron out some things involving test ing procedures in ensure motorists use Only unleaded fuel in cars with  thai has been the lop concern said i a official Sieve Sinicz. It s inc big question he said. Since using leaded Gas renders conveners inoperable we want to know How the army Wilt ensure thai Only unleaded Gas is used in these  the army first asked the Epa in 1985 about allow ing exceptions to rules governing import and Export of cars owned by  who Musl remove converters before shipment and reinstall them when re turning to the United Stales. Christian said. There s a considerable expense attached to  he said. In addition Sari our officials Wunt to show that icy share the environmental concerns of the German government. According to inc German Auto club adar. Lead free Gas is readily available in Germany Switzerland Austria the Netherlands Luxembourg Denmark Norway and Sweden. Countries with Lead free fuel available on a spotty or limited basis says the Mijac arc England Scot land Wales Northern Ireland Ireland Spain. France Italy Belgium Finland. Greece Yugoslavia Hungary East Germany Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia. Countries i Ghoul Lead free gasoline include Portu Gal Poland Turkey. Romania and Russia. ,.eur s initial proposal in August 1985 would still give military personnel the option of removing the converter because unleaded fuel is not readily Avail Able in Many european countries. Servic members who kept converters attached while in Europe would have their vehicles tested using a chemical strip applied to the tailpipe. The strip changes color if leaded fuel has been used. The Tesi would be made annually and at the port before ship Mentlo the United Stales. If the car passes the test at the port officials would indicate on shipping documents thai inc vehicle is in compliance with i a requirement for re importation into the United sulk s. The vehicle should Ihen pass . Customs inspection without further invest ipalion by the Epa the proposal state if a Teit shows leaded Lull has been used the owner would then have to show evidence that a new converter had been installed or the old one repaired before inc car could be shipped. In a response dated nov 7. 1986, the Epa listed some minor modifications to the Way the chemical strip would be used and said it wanted the army to perform the test on spark plugs As Well As tailpipes. The Agency also said it would wan the army to Lesl to Sec whether Gas tank fuel nozzle necks had been modified. Since cars designed to use unleaded fuel have smaller nozzle necks than those thai use leaded fuel he cause of the different sizes of unleaded and leaded fuel pumps at Gas stations the nozzle necks would have to be widened if the owner wanted to use leaded fuel. The Epa wants to prevent such possible tampering. The army has said they Only want in lest spark plugs once at the Peri before shipment rather than doing in annually with the tailpipe Lesl Suid Mary Smith an Epa official. Those Are the kinds of things we re negotiating right now. The next move is up to inc army. They have to come to us Wilh a formal proposal incorporating the changes we want army officials Hope to gel final Epa approval by Early next year. The military can then begin by Jug and distributing lest equipment for communities in Europe and familiarizing local officials Wilh testing procedures. Actor Sheen released from jail Washington api actor mar Lin Sheen after an overnight stay in jail pleaded innocent thursday to charges stemming from his protest at a subway station where transit officials have fenced out homeless people. I an in sup Pun of the homeless. 1 came to offer that support in the Way of my presence and my prayers said Sheen who went to jail on an unlawful entry charge Wilh activist Milch Snyder and another protester Mark Parker. Snyder. Whose life Story was portrayed by Sheen in a television movie last year has been leading a demonstration at a downtown subway Stop since the Washington metropolitan area transit authority erected a Fence to keep homeless people from sleeping at the Entrance after the subway closes at Midnight. Disappear in says Sheen said of the Fence. Go away it says to the poor. If we can t Sec you you Don t  the ii Ansil authority has maintained the Fence was necessary because homeless peo ple were creating a mess of Unne and human waste Al the station. Beverly Silver Berg a transit spokeswoman said there Are other agencies that have the responsibility for providing social services. We believe our responsibility to the people of this Region is to provide a Quality transportation system she said. Combining work and fun is goal Many people strive toward and this youngster stroller roller at the naval air station in Simonella Sicily seems to hic Arnm polished in. Lor Sis try  the Triller und the roller item made for each other. Spain says Portugal not involved in base talks .1 _ c a i.,r 1 Litimo Madrid Spain fighter bomb ers from a base near Madrid. Gon Alei told reporters Al the end of a two Day Summit that he had discussed the .-Spanish talks with portuguese prime minister Anibal Cavaco Silva. Asked whether the f-l6s stationed in Spain could be moved to Portugal if the United Stales acc pled Spain s demand1, that they be withdrawn Gonzalez said we have not before involved a third country in the negotiations and we will not no nor in the future. This is strictly a bilateral matter to be resolved Between the United states and Spain the socialist prime minister ipod reporters. When asked the same question. Cava co Silva told reporters we Hase pict been asked to consider accept ing 4 move of the . F-l6s in Spain to  but Cavaco Silva added i Ghoul elaborating. Hal Portugal would have difficulties in accepting such a request Spamsh-. Troop reduction talks began 16 months ago when a majority of spaniards approved a March Hofia referendum la keep spam in the Nonh Allan lie treaty Urgani lion. On condition Hal the . Military presence be significant reduced. Since the signing of a bilateral defense Accord in 1 5j, the United Stales has maintained More than 10,000 troops at three air bases a naval station and nine Ciummu Calion posts on Spanish territory. Local news reports Rcpt my div have edited Portugal As j possible relocation me fur the my jets now in spam. I or Lugii Aliu has a Pilate in military agreement with the United stale1, that permits use of an air Bic i Lajes in Hie mid aug Mil azores