The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a final rule establishing vehicle aging procedures that auto manufacturers must use to demonstrate that their vehicles will continue to meet emission standards throughout the required useful life of the vehicle, which is 120,000 miles for most cars and light trucks.

In addition, the EPA is proposing options for testing the durability of vehicle emission-related components, such as oxygen sensors and catalytic converters.

Details are available online at www.epa.gov/otaq/ld-hwy.htm#cap2k.