&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Radiation
EPA420-F-00-004
February 2000
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
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 and Fuel 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, engineer-
ing, chemistry, economics, natural resources management, and law.
OTAQ develops national standards for emissions, evaluates emission
control technology, 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 incentive programs.
> Printed on Recycled Paper
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1990 Clean
Air Act
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.
A major challenge for OTAQ is to find ways to reduce vehicle-related
pollution 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 emission 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 nonpe-
troleum 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.
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
Office Director
Deputy Office Director
1 1
Advanced
Technology
Division
Assessment
and
Standards
Division
Certification
and
Compliance
Division
1 1
Laboratory
Operations
Division
Transportation
and
Regional Programs
Division
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Advanced
Technology
Division
and
Standards
Division
Certification
and
Compliance
Division
Laboratory
Operations
Division
Transportation
Regional
Programs
Division
Overview
The Advanced Technology Division (ATD) is responsible for all automo-
tive technology development programs to improve fuel economy and to
reduce vehicle and fuel emissions from mobile sources. The major focus
of the division is the development of new and emerging technologies,
such as Clean Car (Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles), low
NOx 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 contribu-
tion of mobile sources to pollutant emission inventories, and assesses the
feasibility, cost, and in-use effectiveness of emission control technolo-
gies.
The Certification and Compliance Division (CCD) manages the certifica-
tion program for all highway and nonroad vehicles and engines. This
division also ensures compliance with national programs to reduce
emissions from highway and nonroad engines and vehicles. This in-
cludes activities aimed at measuring in-use effectiveness of these control
programs.
The Laboratory Operations Division (LOD) provides emission testing
services for motor vehicle, heavy-duty engine, and nonroad engine
programs in support 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. This division is also responsible for provid-
ing all facility services and upgrades, computer network services, and
administrative support services to the office.
The Transportation and Regional Programs Division (TRPD) works with
regions, states, local governments, and other stakeholders to reduce
pollution from fuel, transportation, and nonroad sources. TRPD imple-
ments national and regional pollution control programs, such as the
reformulated gasoline (RFG) and inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs. This division develops and supports voluntary initiatives that
encourage clean air and liveable communities, such as the commuter
choice program. TRPD also implements a transportation-based climate
change program.
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For
You can get information on OTAQ programs and regulations electroni-
cally from our Web site at:
http ://www. epa.gov/otaq
(look in What's New or under the specific topic)
You can also contact the NVFEL library for document information at:
The 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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