September, 15 2009, 04:47pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Serena Ingre, San Francisco, 703-296-0702 (cell), 415-875-6155
(office); Michael Oko, Washington, 202-513-6245 (office), 202-904-5245
(cell)
Obama Administration Proposes First National Limits on Global Warming Pollution from Cars and Trucks
Clean Car Standards Would Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Cut Oil Dependence and Save Americans Money at the Pump
SAN FRANCISCO/WASHINGTON
The U.S. EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
today announced a joint proposal for national standards for greenhouse
gas pollution from cars and trucks, along with strengthened fuel
economy standards.
According to EPA and NHTSA, the new
proposed standards will cut global warming pollution from vehicles by
30 percent, improve fuel economy to an average of about 35.5 miles per
gallon, and save drivers thousand of dollars over the life of the
vehicles - all while adopting a "size-based" standard favored by
domestic automakers.
Today's action follows President
Obama's historic clean car agreement announced in May that was
supported by car makers, states, and environmental organizations.
Following is a statement by Roland Hwang, vehicles policy director for NRDC:
"This
historic proposal moves America further down the road to cleaner, more
fuel-efficient vehicles. This unprecedented national program would
reduce global warming pollution, break our dependence on oil, and save
drivers money at the pump. Working together, the Obama administration,
states, the auto industry, and environmental leaders have come to an
agreement that will enable car makers to meet the challenges of the
21st century, while protecting our planet and our health.
"These
new national rules could not have happened without California's
ground-breaking standards to tackle global warming pollution from cars
and trucks.
"NRDC looks forward to working with EPA and
NHTSA to ensure that the new standards deliver the benefits promised in
last May's clean car agreement."
Background:
This
is EPA's first action to curb global warming pollution under the Clean
Air Act, using the authority upheld by the Supreme Court's landmark
2007 decision in Massachusetts v. EPA. The two federal
agencies are expected to issue the final standards next March, after a
public comment period. The new standards will take effect with 2012
model cars and trucks and ramp up to full strength by 2016. The Obama
administration's move to adopt California's ground-breaking standards
reaffirms the state's leadership role in tackling global warming
pollution through clean vehicle technology.
For more background on this agreement, read David Doniger's blog: Clean Car Peace Treaty at White House
NRDC works to safeguard the earth--its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. We combine the power of more than three million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and policy advocates across the globe to ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water, and the wild.
(212) 727-2700LATEST NEWS
Amid Spying Fight, House Passes Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act
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While applauding the U.S. House of Representatives' bipartisan passage of a bill to ensure that "law enforcement and intelligence agencies can't do an end-run around the Constitution by buying information from data brokers" on Wednesday, privacy advocates highlighted that Congress is trying to extend and expand a long-abused government spying program.
The House voted 219-199 for Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act (FANFSA), which won support from 96 Democrats and 123 Republicans, including the lead sponsor, Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio). Named for the constitutional amendment that protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, H.R. 4639 would close what campaigners call the data broker loophole.
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Wednesday's vote followed the House sending the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act to the Senate. H.R. 7888 would reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows for warrantless spying on noncitizens abroad but also sweeps up Americans' data.
The House notably included an amendment forcing a wide range of individuals and businesses to cooperate with government spying operations but rejected an amendment that would have added a warrant requirement to the bill, which the Senate could vote on as soon as Thursday.
Noting those decisions on the FISA reauthorization legislation, Ruddock stressed that "today's vote is a victory but follows a recent loss and ongoing threat as that Section 702 bill moves to the Senate this week too."
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Kia Hamadanchy, senior policy counsel at ACLU, similarly said Wednesday that "the bipartisan passage of this bill is a flashing warning sign to the government that if it wants our data, it must get a warrant."
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