CA Auto Emissions Waiver may create regulatory uncertainty.
Press Release Summary:
According to NAM's Vice President for Energy and Resources Policy, Keith McCoy, the EPA's decision to grant California's waiver to move forward with more stringent tailpipe emissions "could lead to a patchwork of regulations that would burden an already beleaguered manufacturing sector." He went on to express hope that this action would not undermine efforts to create one uniform, federal standard for fuel economy that will promote regulatory certainty.
Original Press Release:
NAM Says EPA's Waiver for California Auto Emission Standards May Create Regulatory Uncertainty
Manufacturers Oppose Patchwork of Federal, State Standards
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2009 - The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President for Energy and Resources Policy Keith McCoy issued the following statement in response to today's decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to grant California's waiver to move forward with more stringent tailpipe emissions:
The EPA's action allows California, 13 other states and Washington, D.C. to impose stricter fuel economy standards beginning with this model year, ahead of the unified approach outlined by the Obama Administration, which will take effect on 2012 model year vehicles. This action could lead to a patchwork of regulations that would burden an already beleaguered manufacturing sector.
Today's action reverses a 2008 decision by EPA to deny California a waiver under the Clean Air Act to move forward with stricter tailpipe standards in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The EPA denied California's request on the grounds that the state regulations failed to meet "compelling and extraordinary conditions" required by the statute. President Obama ordered the EPA to review last year's decision during the first days of his Administration.
We hope that today's action by the EPA will not undermine the effort to create a single, uniform, federal standard for fuel economy that will promote a climate of regulatory certainty. The NAM supports a comprehensive, federal climate policy that pre-empts state and regional programs without undermining the health of the economy. Further, we hope that the EPA's decision will not lead to state action that will undercut efforts by federal policymakers and industry leaders to discuss federal climate policy in a transparent, predictable and rigorous manner."
For more information on EPA's action, go to: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/ca-waiver.htm.
The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation's largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the NAM has 11 additional offices across the country. Visit the NAM's web site at www.nam.org for more information about manufacturing and the economy.
CONTACTS:
HANK COX (202) 637-3090
