UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 OFFIC IAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER A Environmental News Fitzwater (202) 755-0344 O'Neill (202) 755-0344 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1974 EPA RESCINDS PARKING SURCHARGES AND DEFERS PARKING REVIEW Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Russell E. Train today announced the withdrawal of all parking surcharge regulations from the transportation control plans established to lower urban air pollution levels. Train said EPA is also delaying the implementation date for all regulations requiring the air quality impact review of new parking facilities. The delay, until January 1, 1975, will also apply to the "indirect source" regulations which are cur- rently required by court order to be promulgated on or before January 31, 1974. Train noted that the Energy Emergency Act now before the Congress includes provisions forbidding the imposition of parking surcharges by EPA and defers the effective date of any review of new parking facilities. "It is my judgment," Train said, "that the provisions of the Energy Act respecting transportation controls should be regarded as firm congressional guidance on that issue." "The Clean Air Act," he said, "does not authorize the imposition before mid-1977 of any transportation control (more) Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material ~, or if change of address is needed ~ (indicate change, including zip code). EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. 8-72) R-329 ------- -2- measures which are not "reasonably available1 at the time they are imposed. In making my determination of what measures are in fact "reasonably available' under the statute, I do not believe I may properly ignore such strong expressions of intent on the part of Congress as those expressed during formulation of the Energy Act.11 Train said EPA will make a study of the necessity and desirability of parking surcharges, as called for in the Energy bill now before Congress, and will report those findings to the Congress. Parking surcharges, in different forms, had been required in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Newark, New Jersey; and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Train said EPA is currently studying alternative trans- portation strategies as substitutes for the parking surcharges. He also said today's action does not prevent States and localities from establishing surcharges. Most of the parking review regulations in the transportation plans, now delayed until January 1, 1975, were originally/ effective in August or November 197 3. Today's action will be published in the Federal Register in a few days. # # # R-32 9 ------- |