Automakers Testify On EPA'S Clean Autos And Fuel Rule

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers today presented details of its alternative to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed rule on clean vehicle emissions and clean fuel at a public hearing in Philadelphia. The Alliance proposal will improve air quality in major urban areas to the same or greater extent as EPA's proposed Tier 2 inch rule.

Through even cleaner automobile technology combined with clean fuel, the impact to air in the nation from the Alliance proposal would be equivalent to removing 54 million cars from the road, said Josephine S. Cooper, President, Alliance for Automobile Manufacturers. The impact of this clean autos and fuel rule in Philadelphia would be equivalent to removing 1.9 million cars from the road. That's equivalent to removing one in every four vehicles from the road in Pennsylvania or one of every three vehicles in New Jersey.

Cooper, whose 10-member association includes automakers from around the world, testified on the first day of hearings by EPA. The Agency is seeking public comment on its Tier 2inches vehicle emissions and fuel rule, which was proposed and is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. The Alliance proposal for a vehicle emissions and fuel rule would reduce tailpipe emissions of nitrogen oxides from passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans and pick-up trucks, as well as reduce sulfur in gasoline to produce a cleaner burning fuel.

In her remarks at the public hearing, Cooper noted that automakers have repeatedly demonstrated a commitment to cleaner air. Most recently, automakers volunteered to substantially reduce emissions through their National Low Emissions Vehicle initiative. This program achieves greater vehicle emissions reductions than EPA could have required under their authority granted by the Clean Air Act. The auto industry will provide cleaner-running vehicles to all 50 states based on technology originally developed to meet California's strict emissions and fuel control requirements, said Cooper. California currently has a clean autos and fuel rule in place.

The Alliance is supporting elements of EPA's proposed rule that are consistent with the plan proposed by automakers. Cooper made five key points before the EPA panel:

* Automakers are committed to implementing advancements in clean air technology while still offering vehicles that meet consumer demand for quality and functionality.

* Fuels and autos operate as one system and must be addressed in unison. Near-zero sulfur fuels are needed to enable the introduction of technology required to meet the tough new standards.

* Automakers need enough flexibility in the timeline to allow for the invention of the technologies necessary to make performance against new standards a reality.

* EPA must conduct an evaluation study midway through the implementation period to ensure that the standards are still seen as attainable.

* EPA needs to ensure that the final rule continues to foster the development of and ready access to advanced technology, such as lean burn engines that greatly increase fuel efficiency.

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