United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation
and Air Quality
EPA420-F-05-054
November 2005
Resource
Information
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of
Transportation and Air Quality's (OTAQ) mission is to reconcile the
transportation sector with the environment by advancing clean fuels and
technology, and working to promote more liveable communities. OTAQ
is responsible for carrying out laws to control air pollution from motor
vehicles, engines, and their fuels. Mobile sources include: cars and light
trucks, large trucks and buses, farm and construction equipment, lawn
and garden equipment, marine engines, aircraft, and locomotives.
Overview
EPA's motor vehicle emissions control program was established in 1971.
OTAQ is divided between EPA's headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the
National Vehicle andFuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, near
the headquarters of domestic automobile manufacturers.
There are about 400 employees in OTAQ. Staff expertise spans a variety of
technical and public policy fields including auto mechanics, engineering,
chemistry, economics, natural resources management, and law. OTAQ
develops national standards for emissions, evaluates emission control technol-
ogy, tests vehicles, engines, and fuels, and determines compliance with federal
emission and fuel economy standards. We also develop fuel standards,
inspection and maintenance programs, and market and transportation incen-
tive programs.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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Reducing Air Pollution from Mobile Sources
The early goals of OTAQ centered around working with industry to reduce
emissions from individual automobiles. The approach achieved dramatic
success—compared to an uncontrolled passenger car of 1970, an average car
on the road today emits 60 to 90 percent less pollution over its lifetime.
However, the amount of driving in this country has more than doubled since
then, so transportation still accounts for a large part of national air pollution.
More than half the U. S. population live in areas where pollution levels exceed
federal air quality standards.
1990 Clean Amajor challenge for OTAQ is to find ways to reduce vehicle-related pollu-
Air Act tion given the increase in vehicle travel. Congress outlined a four-point strategy
in the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments to achieve further emission reductions
from transportation sources. The strategy broadens our program activities
beyond the original focus on new car emission standards to emphasize:
• Clean Vehicles - Develop more stringent emi ssion standards for cars,
buses, trucks, and nonroad engines, such as construction equipment,
boats, lawn and garden equipment, and locomotives.
• Clean Fuels - Develop reformulated gasoline, diesel fuel, and
nonpetroleum alternatives.
• Inspection and Maintenance and Onboard Diagnostics - Develop
programs to identify faulty emission controls and ensure their repair so
vehicles remain clean in actual customer use.
• Clean Transportation Alternatives - Develop strategies to encourage
transportation alternatives to address vehicle travel growth.
Organization Overview
Office Director
Advanced
Technology
Division
Assessment &
Standards
Division
Compliance &
Innovative Strategies
Division
Laboratory
Operations
Division
Transportation
& Climate
Division
Transportation &
Regional Programs
Division
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Advanced
Technology
Division
Assessment
and
Standards
Division
Compliance
and
Innovative
Strategies
Division
Laboratory
Operations
Division
Transportation
and Climate
Division
Divisions
The Advanced Technology Division (ATD) is responsible for all automotive
technology development programs to improve fuel economy and to reduce
vehicle and fuel emissions from mobile sources. The maj or focus of the
division is the development of new and emerging technologies, such as Clean
Car (Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles), lowNOx diesel engines,
and alternative fuel technologies. ATD is also responsible for climate change
policies and strategies related to vehicle efficiency and fuels.
The Assessment and Standards Division (ASD) identifies and develops future
emission control strategies (such as new vehicle, engine, and fuel quality
standards) and national policy on mobile source emission control. The division
develops regulations and policies, determines the contribution of mobile
sources to pollutant emission inventories, and assesses the feasibility, cost, and
in-use effectiveness of emission control technologies.
The Compliance and Innovative Strategies Division (CISD) implements
emission standards for all light-duty vehicles, and highway and nonroad
engines. The Division certifies that these vehicles and engines meet emission
standards prior to being sold, and ensures that standards continue to be met
throughout the vehicle or engine's life. CISD also promotes, under the Na-
tional Clean Diesel Campaign, the voluntary use of diesel engines. These
engines could continue to be operated for another 20 to 30 years and are not
subj ect to more stringent emission standards that apply to new engines.
The Laboratory Operations Division (LOD) provides emission testing services
for motor vehicle, heavy-duty engine, and nonroad engine programs in sup-
port of rulemakings, enforcement actions, and test procedures development.
Testing activities include certification, fuel economy in-use compliance, fuels
and fuel additives analysis, and exhaust compounds analysis.
The Transportation and Climate Division (TCD) is responsible for coordinat-
ing OTAQ climate programs. These responsibilities include the technical
analyses of the potential vehicle technology and fuel pathways for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, identifying and evaluat-
ing various options to promote the technology and fuel pathways, the devel-
opment or macroeconomic modeling tools for transportation analyses, and the
maintenance of transportation greenhouse gas emission inventories. TCD is
also responsible for interacting with other EPA offices, external stakeholders,
and the public on transportation climate issues.
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Transportation The Transportation and Regional Programs Division (TRPD) works with
and Regional
Programs
Division
regions, states, local governments, and other stakeholders to reduce pollution
from fuel, transportation, and nonroad sources. TRPD implements national
and regional pollution control programs, such as the reformulated gasoline
(RFG) and inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs. This division devel-
ops and supports voluntary initiatives, such as the Best Workplaces for
Commuters,(SM) that encourage clean air and liveable communities. TRPD also
implements a transportation-based climate change program.
For More Information
You can access information on OTAQ programs and regulations from our
Web site at:
www. epa. gov/otaq
You can also contact the NVFEL library for document information at:
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
NVFEL Library
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734)214-4311
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