Groups Praise State’s Effort to Clean Up Automobiles

DEC holds hearing on new auto emissions standard

(Albany, N.Y.) Environmental and public health groups joined together today to praise the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) proposed regulations that would adopt the country’s most stringent automobile pollution standards by opting into the second phase of California’s Low Emission Vehicle program (LEV II). In their testimony before the DEC and again at today’s press conference, Representatives from American Lung Association of New York State, Environmental Advocates and the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) explained how air quality and public health will benefit from the new vehicle emissions program

Automobiles are major sources of the pollutant’s that cause ozone-smog, acid rain and global climate change. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists’ comments on the proposed federal program (Tier 2), cars, light trucks, minivans and SUVs are responsible for over 50% of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions, which cause global warming; over 20% of the country’s emissions of nitrogen oxides emissions and volatile organic compounds, which cause ozone-smog and acid rain; and over 40% of the country’s air toxic emissions.

“New York needs the most stringent automobile emissions control program possible to start addressing the state’s air quality problem and LEV II is that program,” said Jason K. Babbie, NYPIRG’s environmental policy analyst. “The current standards are inadequate protection for the environment or the public’s health.”

The federal Clean Air Act allows states not meeting the health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standards to choose the federal or California’s automobile emissions program. "Since 75% of the state’s residents live in areas failing federal clean air standards, the California LEV II standards will provide needed relief," said Peter Iwanowicz, Director of Environmental Health for the American Lung Association of New York State. "The LEV II standards are cleaner than the default federal program and will provide significant benefits to the more than one million New Yorkers with asthma and improve the quality of life for others with lung disease. The proposal will also improve the health of young children, the elderly, and those working or exercising outdoors," continued Iwanowicz.

Increased driving and more SUVs on the road have eclipsed previous reductions in automobile emissions. Light trucks, the category which includes most SUVs and minivans, is expected to grow from its current share of 45% the vehicle market to 60% in the next twenty years.

“The new standard will require SUVs to meet the same emissions standards as lighter passenger vehicles, treating SUVs like the vehicles they have become,” said Val Washington, Environmental Advocates’ executive director. Currently SUVs pollute up to four to ten times more pollution than a standard passenger vehicle.

The proposed program would require at least ten percent of the new cars sold in New York be zero emission vehicle certified, with partial credit for implementing advanced technology. This mandate will encourage electric and fuel cell vehicles which emit no pollution, and automobiles that pollute less because of new technologies such as those that use compressed natural gas, methane or other alternative sources of fuel and vehicles that use hybrid (gas and electric) motor technology.

“In addition to the updated emissions standards LEV II will also push technology by increasing the number of alternatively fueled vehicles on the road,” said Babbie.

New York currently uses the standards set in California’s existing automobile emissions program and is holding public hearing, through the state, on regulations that will adopt California’s more stringent standards instead of the federal program.

“This is the next logical step for New York to clean up its automobiles and air,” said Washington. “The federal program is good, but LEV II is much better because of more stringent emissions standards and most importantly the zero emission vehicle mandate.”

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