New US Auto Emissions Rules

[Timber Loftis]

Today's BNA Reporter

Air Pollution
EPA Acknowledges Automakers, Refiners
For Progress on Meeting Emission Standard

Automotive manufacturers demonstrated Jan. 26 they are well within reach of the goal of complying with the Environmental Protection Agency's most stringent tailpipe emission standard by providing a wide range of less-polluting cars and sport utility vehicles to the mainstream U.S. vehicle fleet.
With EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt on hand, heads of auto and oil industries introduced 17 vehicles that are commercially available to U.S. consumers. These represent a wide variety of vehicle class choices, yet are 77 percent to 95 percent cleaner than their current conventional counterpart, according to EPA.

The 2004-model year vehicles showcased implementation of the vehicle and gasoline low-sulfur program. The program was established in 2000, under a rulemaking known as Tier 2, which requires passenger vehicles to be 77 percent to 95 percent cleaner than those on the road currently, and a reduction in the sulfur content of gasoline by up to 90 percent beginning in 2004.

"It's a simple formula," said Leavitt. "Cleaner vehicles plus cleaner fuel equals cleaner air."

EPA praised vehicles for being top in their class for fuel economy, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and efficiency. Some of these for model year 2004 are Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Impala, BMW 325i Sport Wagon, Ford Ranger, Volvo XC 70, and Toyota Sienna.

The EPA regulations, which take effect this year, are the first to apply equally to all passenger cars and light trucks, including SUV's. The rules, called "groundbreaking," are also the first to establish requirements for both vehicles and fuel within the same rulemaking. This was done because low-sulfur fuel is essential for optimum performance of the technology needed to meet the emission standard, which was published Feb. 10, 2000 (65 Fed. Reg. 6,698).


Clinton-Era Rule

The rulemaking, finalized in December 1999 during the Clinton administration, calls for 25 percent of all cars and light trucks sold in 2004 to meet the new standards.
Auto industry officials said they expect to significantly exceed program requirements, with as much as 35 percent of the 2004 model-year fleet meeting the new cleaner standards.

Oil refiners have indicated their large technology investments will meet requirements for lowering the sulfur content of gasoline.

"I am impressed with the way industry stepped up to the challenge of meeting these stringent new standards," Leavitt said. "Together, the auto and oil industries are not only meeting deadlines, they're beating them."

The administration, however, was criticized by environmental groups and Environment2004, an organization dedicated to highlighting the environmental issues in the 2004 elections. The group contends that the event was a blatant attempt to take credit for regulations set up before President Bush took office and it stands "in stark contrast to the Bush Administration's efforts to weaken Clean Air Act requirements for power plants, oil refineries, and industrial facilities" such as recent efforts to weaken air pollution standards for 17,000 power plants and other industrial facilities.

"We are pleased that the Bush Administration recognizes the health benefits from the Clinton Administration's program to slash air pollution from motor vehicles and their fuels," said Environment2004 Vice Chair Mary Nichols, EPA assistant administrator for air under Clinton. She is currently director of the University of California Los Angeles Institute of the Environment.

EPA provides consumers information to research which cars, SUVs, and trucks meet the new cleaner standards on EPA's Green Vehicle Guide, which is available at http://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles on the World Wide Web. For more information on the Tier 2 program, access http://www.epa.gov/tier2 on the World Wide Web.

By Pamela Najor

[Timber Loftis]

BUMP!

Either everyone missed this, or we all want to ignore progress.

[Illumina Drathiran'ar]

... I'm trying to find a flaw here. Every cynical neuron is working at full strength. Are they just tossing us a bone here? Or..... Could they really care about the environment...? ::clutches head:: Ow! It hurts!

[Chewbacca]

Good, now the Bush admin can show how much they care and rather than take Clinton's credit help introduce rules to make gas effeciency better. Cleaner fuel helps, but using less of it to go further will help even more.