The United States Environmental Protection Agency has now proposed strong new rules to curb air pollution from automobiles and protect public health. These standards, known as Tier 2, could help determine the quality of America's air for the next twenty years.

The Sierra Club believes that all Americans have a right to clean air, and is working to insure that these standards are as strong as possible -- but we can't do it alone. Big polluters in the auto and oil industries are trying to undermine the rules and block progress on clean air. If you care about the environment and the air our children and grandchildren will breath, you should care about these standards. Read on to find out more about the issue, and what you can do to help.

Our Children are at Risk

Air pollution is dangerous for us all, but children are more likely than adults to suffer. Children breathe in more air per pound of body weight, spend more time outdoors and are less likely to go indoors when air pollution is high, even when they experience respiratory discomfort. Asthma rates among children are up 75% since 1980 with 4.6 million children suffering from asthma nationwide. Air pollution also takes a heavy toll on adults who already have respiratory ailments, especially the elderly.

Smog Problems

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, at least 117 million Americans live in areas with chronic smog problems while approximately 50% of Americans live in areas with elevated soot levels. During the 1998 smog season--April through September--smog reached unhealthy levels in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

It's easy to think of dirty air as an urban problem, but leaving the city doesn't mean leaving smog behind. In Great Smoky Mountain National Park, there were 34 days in the summer of 1997 that air quality was unhealthy for at least 8 hours a day. In fact, there were more unhealthy smog days when ozone violations occurred in the park than in Nashville, Tennessee.

Cars and Light trucks--a big part of the problem

Americans now drive 2.5 trillion miles per year, compared to only 1 trillion miles in 1970, burning more fuel and producing more pollution. Cars and light trucks spew out 30% of the smog forming nitrogen oxide pollution that fouls our air. What most people don't know is that a loophole in the Federal Clean Air laws permits light trucks--sport utility vehicles (SUVs), minivans and pick-ups--to pollute 2 to 5 times more than passenger cars.

Tier 2 and global warming

In addition to soot and smog pollution, cars, SUVs and other light trucks also spew out carbon dioxide--the primary global warming pollutant. Carbon dioxide is produced whenever fossil fuels are burned, and America's automobile fleet is a huge source of this pollution. For each gallon of gasoline a vehicle burns, about 26 pounds of carbon dioxide is emitted into the air (19 from the tailpipe, and another 7 from the refining process that produced the gasoline).

America's clean air laws don't cover global warming pollution, but tougher clean air standards standards would encourage automakers to use more efficient technology that would lower the amount of carbon dioxide produced by our vehicles. Lower levels of sulfur in fuel will help get clean cars on the road, as will stronger miles per gallon (CAFE) standards. To slash global warming pollution we need to raise miles per gallon (CAFE) standards.

Can our Children Breathe Clean Air?

Yes! The US Environmental Protection Agency will soon issue new auto pollution and clean gasoline standards that should slash the smog and soot pollution spewing from cars and sport utility vehicles and other light trucks. These new standards, called Tier 2, will go into effect in 2004, and govern air pollution from automobiles well into the next century. If our children and grandchildren are going to have cleaner air to breathe, we must make sure that the EPA does the right thing, and that Congress does not try to weaken the Tier 2 standards.

What should the new Tier 2 Standards do?

Close the loophole for SUVs and other light trucks.
Under current rules, Sport utility vehicles (SUVs), minivans and other light trucks can legally spew out 3 to 5 times more smog forming pollution than the average car. The EPA should close this gaping pollution loophole by requiring all light trucks, including the largest SUVs to meet the same new pollution standards that it sets for cars.

Set a national clean gasoline standard.
Sulfur in gasoline damages the pollution control systems in our vehicles--catalytic converters--so that they are far less effective in reducing pollution. The average level of sulfur in our gasoline is currently 330 parts per million (ppm). Only California has clean gasoline with only 30 ppm of sulfur. Reducing Sulfur in our gasoline will have the same effect as taking 54 million cars off the road.

Require diesel and gasoline engines to meet the same tough new standards.
Diesel engines spew out 3-10 times more soot than gasoline engines. Because diesel engines get better mileage, however, the auto industry wants to use them in their popular SUVs. Unless diesel engines are required to be as clean as gasoline engines, more diesels on the road will mean more soot pollution in our air.

Promote advanced technology vehicles.
Advanced, clean vehicles, such as hybrid, electric, and fuel cell vehicles, are already on the road or are on their way to the market in several states. The new standards should promote cleaner advanced technologies.

Big polluters in the auto and oil industries are lobbying hard to make sure that the new standards protect THEIR profits instead of OUR children's health and environment. The only way to make sure that the new rules are strong and effective is to send a loud, clear message that Americans demand clean air for our children and our environment.

KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR AIR!

SMOG

Smog, also called ground level ozone, is formed when sunlight hits chemicals emitted by the burning of oil, coal and gasoline. Smog irritates our lungs, causing swelling, redness and shortness of breath. The Harvard School of Public Health and other medical researchers have noted that smog sends tens of thousands of Americans to the emergency room each year.

SOOT

Soot, also called particulate matter, is fine particle pollution that is created by burning oil, coal and gasoline. Diesel engines are also major producers of soot. Soot poses health risks because it is small enough to be inhaled into the lower respiratory tract, where it can cause lung inflammation and even increased death rates for those with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases.