U.S. EPA Approves California
WASHINGTON,
DC,
June 30, 2009 (ENS) - Reversing a Bush-era decision, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency today granted California's waiver request enabling the state
to enforce its greenhouse gas emissions standards for new motor vehicles,
called Clean Car Standards, beginning with the current model year.
The
EPA's granting of the waiver request immediately clears the way for
"This
decision puts the law and science first. After review of the scientific
findings, and another comprehensive round of public engagement, I have decided
this is the appropriate course under the law," said EPA Administrator Lisa
Jackson.
"This
waiver is consistent with the Clean Air Act as it's been used for the last 40
years and supports the prerogatives of the 13 states and the
The
first
"EPA's
reversal tears down the last remaining barrier preventing
Shortly
after taking office in January, President Barack Obama directed EPA to assess
the appropriateness of denying the waiver. EPA received a letter from
EPA
based its decision on an extensive record of scientific and technical evidence,
The
Clean Air Act gives EPA the authority to allow
With
the decision to grant the
On
May 19, President Obama announced an agreement to adopt federal emission
standards for model years 2012 through 2016 that apply the state clean car
program nationwide.
Under
the agreement, the state clean car standards will apply from model years
2009-2011, until the federal standards are carried out. During this transition
period, the states will allow fleetwide compliance
across all states adopting the clean car standards to expand the averaging pool
for determining compliance.
Beginning
in model year 2012, compliance with the new national standards would be deemed
to reflect compliance with the state standards.
The
auto industry, in turn, agreed to dismiss its legal challenges to the state
clean car programs, agreed not to challenge the EPA decision to grant the
preemption waiver for the
"President
Obama's decision last month to create a single national program for greenhouse
gas emissions and fuel economy standards moves us toward a policy that ensures
that consumers in all 50 states have access to highly fuel-efficient vehicles
at an affordable price," said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO, Alliance of
Automobile Manufacturers. "We are hopeful the granting of this waiver will
not undermine the enormous efforts put forth to create the national
program."
"The
President has succeeded in bringing three regulatory bodies, 15 states, a dozen
automakers and many environmental groups to the table," said McCurdy.
"The national program has launched a new beginning, a new chapter and a
new era of cooperation. Automakers remain committed to working with all parties
to further this single national program administered by the federal
government."
Environmentalists
are pleased with the EPA's decision.
A new
report by the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund released today, "Saving
Fuel, Saving Money, Saving Our Climate," shows that motor vehicle drivers
in the 13 states that have adopted
"Cleaner
cars are a trifecta that will save drivers money at
the gas pump, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and cut global warming
pollution from tailpipes," said James Fine, economist and policy scientist
at Environmental Defense Fund.
Ann Notthoff, California Advocacy Director for the Natural
Resources Defense Council, said, "California has been the nation's leader
in clean energy and fighting global warming pollution, and we couldn't be more
pleased to have a new partner in the federal government. Working together, the
State and Federal teams will make a big difference reducing in carbon
pollution, breaking our oil addiction and providing cleaner air for
Californians."
The
EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have begun efforts
to issue a joint rulemaking that is intended to reflect a coordinated and
harmonized approach to implementing the Clean Air Act and the Energy Policy and
Conservation Act. The rulemaking is expected to begin shortly and be concluded
by March 30, 2010 and will apply to vehicles from Model Years 2012-2016.
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