United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-99-028
Environmental Protection June 1999
Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
Regulatory
Update
Supplemental Notice to
EPA's Proposal for Cleaner
Vehicles and Gasoline
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a
supplemental notice to the Agency's proposal for cleaner vehicles and
cleaner gasoline (known as the Tier 2 and sulfur rulemaking). In the
proposal and its supporting documentation, EPA established that states
will need this clean vehicle and fuel program to attain and maintain the
old (1-hour) ozone standard as well as the new (8-hour) ozone
standard. This supplemental notice clarifies that a recent decision of the
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit regarding EPA's
new (8-hour) ozone standard does not affect EPA's proposed
requirements for a cleaner vehicle and gasoline program.
EPA's Proposal to Reduce Tailpipe Emissions
On May 1, 1999, EPA proposed more protective tailpipe emissions
standards for all passenger vehicles, including sport utility vehicles
(SUVs), minivans and pick-up trucks. It marks the first time that SUVs
and other light-duty trucks would be subject to the same national pollu-
tion standards as cars. Simultaneously, EPA proposed reducing sulfur in
gasoline, which will ensure the effectiveness of low emission-control
technologies in vehicles and reduce harmful air pollution.
There is a significant need for further reductions in emissions to attain
and maintain air quality standards. Further reductions from automobiles
are needed to attain and maintain the old (1-hour) ozone standard as well
> Printed on Recycled Paper
-------
as the new (8-hour) ozone standard. EPA's proposal is a necessary and
appropriate regulatory program that would provide cleaner air and
greater public health protection.
Air and a
Ruling
In July 1997, EPA issued health-based air quality standards for ozone
and particulate matter. In response to challenges filed by industry and
others, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit issued a split opinion on May 14, 1999. (American
Trucking Association vs. EPA, Nos 97-1440, 97-1441). The court held
that the Clean Air Act—as applied in setting the new public health air
quality standards for ozone (smog) and particulate matter (soot)—is
unconstitutional as an improper delegation of legislative authority to
EPA. EPA disagrees with this opinion, and is recommending that the
Department of Justice take all judicial steps necessary to overturn it.
EPA is issuing a supplemental notice that contains a more detailed
description of the available ozone modeling data, which shows a strong
need for additional emission reductions to meet the old (1-hour) ozone
standard. EPA is issuing this notice to provide the public with an oppor-
tunity to comment on this additional information.
Motor vehicles generate about 30 percent of all emissions of oxides of
nitrogen and volatile organic compounds—the pollution that causes
ozone. Ozone and particulate matter in the United States together ac-
count for 15,000 premature deaths, 1 million respiratory problems,
400,000 asthma attacks, and thousands of cases of aggravated asthma,
especially in children.
As newer, cleaner cars enter the national fleet, the proposed tailpipe
standards would significantly reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen
from vehicles by about 74 percent by 2030. The proposed standards
would reduce emissions of particulate matter, or soot, from vehicles by
about 84 percent by 2030. This proposal also reduces emissions that
cause or contribute to ozone, particulate matter, air toxics, acid rain, and
other air pollution.
-------
For
EPA welcomes public comment on this supplemental notice. For instruc-
tions on submitting written comments, please see the Federal Register
notice. It is available from the EPA Air Docket by calling 202-260-7548;
please refer to Docket No. A-97-10. In addition, the supplemental notice,
proposed rule, and related documents are available electronically via
EPA's Tier 2 Internet site at:
http://www.epa.gov/oms/tr2home.htm
If you have other questions, you can contact the Tier 2 Team at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
2000 Traverwood Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734)214-4349
------- |