Change In EPA Policy

[Old smart]

This morning (on FoxNews.com) there is a story about Obama signing out yet another executive order directing the EPA to revisit its current stance that auto emissions policy should be to a national standard. He wants allow the policy to be a state-by-state decision. Going to state-by-state is pretty ill conceived. The auto industry is in tough enough shape now without facing the prospect of having to build to a variety different standards, at the whims of 50 different legislative bodies. I don’t think the foreign makers will take it kindly either and could affect their willingness to build for the U.S. market.

The story is now up on CNN tube.

[jediknight36]

Could you tell us the title of the video?

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by jediknight36

Could you tell us the title of the video?

I wasn't a video; it was a text story. I'm sure we'll hear more about it.

[Old smart]

From FoxNews.com:

Obama to Let States Set Auto Emission Standards

In another swift reversal by Obama of Bush administration policy, states will soon be able to set their own auto emission standards in their drive to slash greenhouse gases.

AP
Sunday, January 25, 2009

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is poised to let California and other states set their own more stringent auto emission standards in their drive to slash greenhouse gases, an official familiar with the decision said Sunday.

The move is significant on two fronts: It could empower states to set tougher standards in targeting emissions, which are blamed for contributing to global climate change; and it would be another swift reversal by Obama of Bush administration policy, this time on energy.

Plunging into his first full week at president, Obama is expected to reveal the auto-emissions policy Monday morning in the East Room of the White House. The official familiar with the details spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan had not yet been announced.

Obama is also expected to direct the Transportation Department to get moving on rules for automakers to improve fuel economy. A 2007 law requires that by 2020 new cars and trucks meet 35 miles per gallon (14.8 kilometers per liter), a 40 percent increase over current standards. The Bush administration ended its tenure before putting the new fuel-economy rules in place.

On tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks, California and at least 13 other states have sought permission to enact tough standards by getting waivers under the Clean Air Act.

The Bush administration's Environmental Protection Agency denied that permission, arguing it was more effective to have a national strategy in curbing greenhouse gases. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has lobbied Obama to step in and reverse the decision.

As a candidate for president, Obama pledged to overturn the EPA's denial of a waiver to California -- a denial that affects several other states that have followed California's lead in emissions standards.

On Monday, Obama will order the EPA to reconsider the California decision, a process that could take time but is expected to end up in the states' favor.

The New York Times first reported Obama's planned moves on its Web site Sunday night.

The president on Monday is also expected to tout proposals that he says would boost clean energy supplies while also producing badly needed jobs in so-called "green" industries.

Already, Obama has used his executive power to reverse President George W. Bush's policies on interrogation policies of suspected terrorists, the Guantanamo Bay detention center, and funding for international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information.

[sk8ndad]

Here's the CNN link

[forestacademy]

I must have missed when this wasn't the case

I remember the cars built to CA And MA standards. I remember on some cars you had to pay extra and others were only available with CA and MA standards so they didn't cost extra in those states. It influenced my car buying decison at least once.

[jwight]

Me too; California standards have driven quite a few things. BTW, moved this to the car lounge since it's not just limited to smarts.

[Smart Enuf]

No disrepect to the OP, but the whole thing about 50 state standards is utter nonsense cooked up by the auto makers. Under section 209(b), title 2 of the Clean Air Act (CAA), no state other than California may impose emission standards different from USEPA's. 42 U.S.C. sec. 7543(b). Congress set up the CAA this way in recognition of California's unique air quality problems and the State's traditional role as a laboratory of innovative air pollution regulations (California imposed its own emission standards long before USEPA did).

Under sec. 209(b), California may only enforce its own emission standards upon receiving a waiver from USEPA. No other state can impose any different standards from California's or the federal ones. In other words, states have only two choices: Choose California's standards exactly or choose the federal EPA standards. There is NO possibility under the Clean Air Act of 50 different state emission standards.

Bottom line: There have always been and can only be two standards -- California's and USEPA's. All this stuff about a patchwork of regulations is nonsense and a red herring to deflect attention from the auto industry's other failings.

See http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/ht...3----000-.html for more info.

If you don't like it, lobby Congress to change the law that it set up; USEPA, California, and the other states that adopt California's standards are simply operating under the law that Congress set up 40 years ago and hasn't seen a reason to change it so far. Why? Because it has worked.

As Johnny Storm says, "Flame on!"

[jwight]

On car emissions, the Clean Air Act gives California special authority to regulate vehicle pollution because the state began regulating such pollution before the federal government did. But a federal waiver is still required; if the waiver is granted, other states can choose to adopt California's standards or the federal ones.

But in 2007 the Bush administration's Environmental Protection Agency denied California's request, gaining praise from the auto industry but touching off a storm of investigations and lawsuits from Democrats and environmental groups who contended the denial was based on political instead of scientific reasons.

California's proposed restrictions would force automakers to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and light trucks by 2016.

So the key appears to be CA gets the authority since they were in the clean air regulation business before any federal standards were enacted.

[Smartdavis]

Obama just upped the mpg requirements for the auto makers.