Today the state of Arizona is planning to join with states across the
nation to sue the U.S. EPA to act on the states’ petition to implement
their own, more protective standards for automobile pollution.
“Arizona and states across the country are ready to move forward to
protect air quality and the public’s health. U.S. EPA should applaud,
not delay, the states desire to reduce pollution and adverse public
health impacts from cars and light trucks,” stated Diane E. Brown,
Executive Director for the Arizona Public Interest Research Group
(Arizona PIRG), a statewide public interest advocacy organization.
According to Arizona PIRG research, carbon dioxide pollution from cars
and light trucks in Arizona could double from 1990 to 2020 unless
action is taken to reduce emissions. The Clean Cars Program which
establishes limits on health-damaging pollution from automobiles will
cut carbon dioxide emissions from cars, light trucks and SUVs in
Arizona by 7.25 million metric tons annually by 2025, the equivalent of
taking 1.3 million of today’s cars off the road for an entire year.
The Clean Air Act allows states with poor air quality to choose between
complying with federal vehicle emission standards and adopting the more
protective standards—known as the Clean Cars Program—implemented by the
state of California. In late 2004, California adopted
first-of-their-kind standards requiring cars and light-duty trucks to
limit emissions that contribute to global warming. Since then, 11 other
states have adopted the California tailpipe emissions standards.
Governor Napolitano’s Climate Change Advisory Group, a diverse set of
stakeholders including utility, business, public health, environmental
leaders and others, unanimously voted in favor of this Program and the
governor included it in an Executive Order in September 2006.
Rulemaking to adopt this Program in Arizona is expected to start in the
near future.
The U.S. EPA has been sitting on California’s application for a waiver
under the Clean Air Act, which will permit the state to require
stricter global warming emission standards for new vehicles, since
December 21, 2005. Without the U.S. EPA’s stamp of approval,
California—and the other 11 states that have adopted the Clean Cars
Program—and those including Arizona that intend to--will not be able to
take this important step toward cutting global warming pollution from
tailpipes.
“Clearly, Arizona and states across the nation have every right to
pursue stronger air quality and public health protections for their
citizens. It is time for the federal government to get out of the way
and let Arizona and other states implement the Clean Cars Program to
decrease pollution that adversely impacts public health conditions like
asthma and lung disease, improve our air quality, and save consumers
money at the pump,” Brown concluded.
