Pennsylvania EQB Approves Clean Vehicles Program

Program Reduces Smog-Forming Emissions, Toxic Pollution

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 19 -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the state's Environmental Quality Board, an independent regulatory review panel, approved a plan that will enhance the state's Clean Vehicles Program, originally adopted in 1998, and ensure cleaner, healthier air across the commonwealth -- all at no overall additional cost to consumers.

"Air quality is improving in Pennsylvania, but we need to do more to protect public health and the environment," Governor Rendell. "More than half our commonwealth fails to meet federal air quality requirements for smog. If we want to remain competitive and keep our economy growing, we need to find a way to reduce emissions from mobile sources, which remain a significant contributor to air pollution."

Cars contribute about a third of the state's smog-producing emissions. They also emit toxic pollutants like benzene. People are driving more and more -- Pennsylvanians increase their vehicle miles driven by some 2 percent every year -- so improving vehicle technology through this program will preserve mobility while protecting public health and the environment.

EQB voted 16-2 today to lock in model year 2008 as the compliance date for the next phase of the state's Clean Vehicle Program, which sets new emission standards for new passenger cars and light-duty trucks in Pennsylvania. The program also requires automakers to make their overall fleet cleaner than would be required by the federal program.

EQB received 4,829 responses during the public comment period that included three hearings in March. Nearly all of the commentators supported the state program -- which, at the time, was a record number of responses for a rulemaking in Pennsylvania.

Other approvals, including that by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission within 30 days, are needed before the EQB action is final.

Pennsylvania's Clean Vehicles Program will cut as much as 12 percent in volatile organic compounds and 9 percent in nitrogen oxide emissions over the less stringent federal standards, and result in a 5 percent to 11 percent greater reduction of six toxic air pollutants, including benzene, a known carcinogen.

Two-thirds of Pennsylvanians live in the 37 counties that failed to meet the protective eight-hour ozone standards and were designated as "nonattainment" by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2004. Heart problems and respiratory problems, including asthma, are exacerbated by unhealthy air, which also can cause damage to crops, forests and wildlife.

Pennsylvania's Clean Vehicles Program is absolutely essential to efforts to bring these counties into compliance. In order to qualify for redesignation as an ozone attainment area, the Department of Environmental Protection must demonstrate to EPA an area can maintain air quality at the required levels for the next 10 years as required under the federal Clean Air Act.

DEP recently petitioned EPA to redesignate Lancaster County from "marginal" nonattainment to attainment for the eight-hour ozone standards. The proposed maintenance plan includes additional emission reductions from the transportation sector.

Failure to meet clean-air standards hinders economic growth, because new businesses face steeper environmental hurdles to operate in places designated as being in nonattainment.

Business and industry in Pennsylvania already face strict emission regulations, with more to come under other new federal requirements. Because of all of these regulations, emissions from industry already are capped or declining. Fewer emission reductions from mobile sources would mean more reductions would need to be mandated for factories, power plants and manufacturers.

"Tailpipe standards cost little or nothing in the short term and overall save consumers money, making this the most cost-effective approach," Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said.

The federal Clean Air Act allows individual states the choice of adopting EPA's emissions standards or the tougher rules used in California. A growing number of states in the Northeast and the West Coast have been opting to follow California's lead. Pennsylvania adopted the California standards in 1998.

Vehicles meeting the California standards are sold on the market today at the same price as those meeting the less strict federal standard. Moreover, in the coming years, consumers will save money over the life of these vehicles because they operate more efficiently.

The savings to consumers are estimated at about $3.50 to $7 per month in 2016 when the full program is implemented. These estimates were done with gasoline prices averaged at $1.74 per gallon. Gas currently costs above $2.50 a gallon.

For more information, visit DEP's Web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/, Keyword: "Air Quality."

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.