SEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Transportation EPA-420-F-09-069 and Air Quality October 2009 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, engineering, 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 trans- portation incentive programs. ------- 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 Air Act A major challenge for OTAQ is to find ways to reduce vehicle-related pollution given the increase in vehicle travel. With the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, Congress broadened our program activities beyond the original focus on new car emission standards. Current OTAQ priorities include: • Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Develop and implement the first national greenhouse gas emissions standards for new cars and trucks. • Renewable Fuels - Develop and implement the national renewable fuel standard program to increase the volume of renewable fuel blended into the nation's transportation fuel supply, and to ensure that those renewable fuels are less carbon intensive than the petroleum fuels they displace. • Clean Vehicles and Engines - Develop more stringent emission standards for new cars, buses, trucks, and nonroad engines, such as construction equipment, boats, lawn and garden equipment, locomotives, and marine vessels. • Existing Fleet - Work with stakeholders through the National Clean Diesel Campaign and SmartWay Partnership to reduce emissions and increase the efficiency of the existing fleet. 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. 2 ------- Organization Overview Office Director Laboratory Operations Division Advanced Technology Division Assessment & Standards Division Transportation & Climate Division Transportation & Regional Programs Division Compliance & Innovative Strategies Division Advanced Technology Division Divisions 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. Assessment and Standards Division 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 technologies. Compliance and Innovative Strategies Division 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 emis- sion 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 National 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 subject to more stringent emission standards that apply to new engines. 3 ------- Laboratory Operations Division Transportation and Climate Division The Laboratory Operations Division (LOD) provides emission testing services for motor vehicle, heavy-duty engine, and nonroad engine pro- grams 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. The Transportation and Climate Division (TCD) is responsible for coordinating OTAQ climate programs. These responsibilities include the technical analyses of the potential vehicle technology and fuel path- ways for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, identifying and evaluating various options to promote the technology and fuel pathways, the development or macroeconomic modeling tools for transportation analyses, and the maintenance of transportation green- house gas emission inventories. TCD is also responsible for interacting with other EPA offices, external stakeholders, and the public on transpor- tation climate issues. Transportation and Regional Programs Division The Transportation and Regional Programs Division (TRPD) works with regions, states, local governments, and other stakeholders to reduce pol- lution from fuel, transportation, and nonroad sources. TRPD implements national and regional pollution control programs, such as the reformu- lated gasoline (RFG) and inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs. This division develops and supports voluntary initiatives, such as the Best Workplaces for Commuters'"1' that encourage clean air and live- able 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 4 ------- |