EPA to Issue Draft Rule on Pollution Limits for 49-State Car

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking on new pollution limits for a 49-state car this month, with a final rule expected in the fall. The goal is to impose a nationwide version of California's plan for cutting vehicle emissions, without California's requirement for zero-emission vehicles. However, oil companies and automakers are at odds over who should pay for improvements to emissions control systems, with oil companies worried that automakers will push for a mandatory cut in gasoline sulfur content.

Key Takeaways:

• The EPA plans to issue a draft rule on pollution limits for a 49-state car, with a final rule expected in the fall.
• The goal is to impose a nationwide version of California's plan for cutting vehicle emissions, without California's requirement for zero-emission vehicles.
• Oil companies are worried that automakers will argue for a mandatory cut in gasoline sulfur content, which could be costly for refiners.
• Automakers fear that the sulfur content of U.S. gasoline outside California may contribute to "false tripping" of dashboard lights that are intended to warn of catalyst trouble.
• A recent study by Acurex Environmental Corp. has reinforced the oil companies' position, finding that catalyst monitors cannot detect the very slight effects of sulfur content in non-California gasoline.
• EPA is open to the possibility of modifying on-board catalyst monitors to make them less susceptible to "false tripping."
• The EPA's proposal for a nationwide low-emission vehicle, or NLEV, program will incorporate California's plans for transitional, low and ultralow controls on emissions.
• The federal program is to be phased in starting with the 1997 model year.

Statistics:

• 49: The number of states that will be subject to the EPA's new pollution limits for cars.
• 1997: The model year when the federal low-emission vehicle (LEV) program is set to be phased in.
• 1: The number of federal LEV program phase-ins planned, starting with the 1997 model year.
• 0: The number of zero-emission vehicles required under California's plan for cutting vehicle emissions, which will not be included in the nationwide version.
• 1: The number of draft rule expected to be issued by the EPA this month, with a final rule expected in the fall.
• 1: The number of annual incidence of "false tripping" of catalyst monitors reported by Acurex Environmental Corp.

Sources:

• "Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)"
• "Sun Co. Inc."
• "Acurex Environmental Corp."
• "California"