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Clean Air Program |
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SIERRA CLUB HAILS NEW CLEAN AIR
STANDARDS
Washington--The Sierra Club hailed new auto
pollution and clean gasoline standards announced by the Clinton-Gore
administration today as a major step toward cleaning up air pollution
linked to asthma attacks. Beginning in 2004, these standards, known as
Tier 2, will clean up America's cars and heavily polluting SUVs and
other light trucks, along with the gasoline they burn.
"Implementing these clean car and gasoline
standards will do more to cut smog pollution than action since the 1990
Clean Air Act." said Carl Pope, Executive Director. "President Clinton,
Vice President Gore and the EPA have given all Americans the gift of
clean air."
Tens of thousands of Sierra Club members flooded
Vice President Gore with postcards urging that he extert his leadrship
to protect the environment.
"Americans asked Vice President Gore to deliver
cleaner air and he delivered," said Ann Mesnikoff, who directed Sierra
Club's Clean Car Campaign.
Today, SUVs and other light trucks can legally
emit as much as 3-5 times more air pollution than cars. The new
standards close this loophole in air pollution standards by including
both cars and SUVs (up to 8,500 pounds) in the same program. In
addition, the Environmental Protection Agency has already proposed new
standards that would apply to all SUVs up to 10,000 pounds, fully
closing air pollution loopholes for light trucks.
"These standards create the precedent of treating
SUVS and other heavily polluting light trucks like cars," said Daniel
Becker, Director of the Sierra Club's Global Warming and Energy Program.
"The next step must be to hold SUVs and other light trucks to the same
mile per gallon standards as cars. This will cut global warming
pollution more than any other single step."
Millions of Americans live in areas with
unhealthy air. Cars, SUVs and other light trucks spew nearly 30% of the
pollution that forms smog. These standards, which begin in 2004, will
slash that pollution.
Cleaning up these heavily polluting vehicles is a
major achievement. But, tightening up the timeline for the heaviest and
dirtiest SUVs from 2009 to 2007 and fully closing the door on dirty
diesel vehicles would have made these standards stronger and delivered
clean air faster. Along with the tailpipe standards, the administration
is cleaning up gasoline by setting a national low-sulfur standard of 30
parts per million. Today's gasoline averages 330 ppm.
"Cleaning up gasoline by slashing sulfur levels
in gasoline nationwide will pave the way for cleaner, more efficient
vehicles," said Mesnikoff. "Cutting sulfur levels in gasoline will cut
the soot spewing out of America's tailpipes and into our childrens'
lungs." she added.
