Clinton unveils rules to cut smog from cars, SUVs
Copyright
1999 Reuters
December 21, 1999
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- President Clinton on Tuesday unveiled sweeping new rules to improve the nation's air quality by drastically cutting auto tailpipe emissions and sulphur in gasoline.
"These measures will assure every American cleaner air well into the 21st century. It will prevent thousands of premature deaths and protect millions of our children from respiratory disease. It will be the most dramatic improvement in air quality since the catalytic converter was first introduced a quarter century ago," Clinton said.
Under the new rules, auto makers would for the first time be required to build light trucks and sport utility vehicles subject to the same national pollution control standards as passenger cars. For gasoline, the new rules would lower sulfur
emissions by 90 percent over a five-year phase in period, beginning in 2004.
Clinton said the regulations would clean 2 million tons of smog from the air starting next decade and provide widespread health benefits, especially for asthmatic children.
"Working closely with industry, we will ensure both the freedom of American families to drive the vehicles of their choice and the right of American children to breathe clean, healthy air," Clinton said.
The president announced the new rules at a Washington, D.C., elementary school, joined by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner and children's health experts.
SUVs, light trucks targeted
Fully half the new vehicles purchased in the United States today are SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans, which produce three to five times more pollution than cars, the president said.
EPA is seeking a 77 percent reduction for car tailpipe emissions, and up to a 95 percent cut for trucks and SUVs over five years, beginning in 2004.
EPA said the costs to auto makers would average less than $100 per car and $200 per SUV to meet the new benchmark.
For gasoline, new rules would lower sulfur emissions from the current national average of 330 parts per million to 30 PPM. High sulphur levels in gasoline are blamed for clogging vehicles' catalytic converters, which control tailpipe emissions and reduce pollution.
Environmentalists hailed the steps, saying the move is a landmark akin to the 1990 Clean Air Act.
"This is the crown jewel in the clean air legacy of the Clinton-Gore administration. It's a wonderful holiday gift from the president," said Frank O'Donnell, executive director of the Clean Air Trust, a nonprofit group in favor of clean air.
Refiners question cost
Oil refiners have said the average price of gasoline could rise as much as 6 cents a gallon because of the cost involved in upgrading refineries to make cleaner fuel.
Industry officials said the Clinton administration had taken a "high-stakes approach to reducing sulfur in gasoline," a move that could affect fuel supplies.
"The final EPA rule imposes California's current state gasoline sulfur regulations on the entire U.S.," said Urvan Sternfels, president of the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association.
"We are concerned that extending these limits to the whole country could lead to supply and price instability nationwide, similar to that which California experienced earlier this year," Sternfels said.
EPA said the cleaner-gasoline requirement would add no more than 2 cents to the pump price per gallon.
The automobile industry said EPA missed an opportunity for greater gains by not mandating sulphur-free fuels.
"The rules are headed in the right direction, but we are disappointed they stopped short of the maximum clean air benefits," said Gloria Bergquist, vice president of communications for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.