[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Issues Draft Clean-Car Rules to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Vehicles

Thu Jan 10 12:12:34 MST 2008

ADEQ Issues Draft Clean-Car Rules to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions from
Vehicles 

PHOENIX (Jan. 10, 2008) -- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens announced today that ADEQ has issued draft
rules to cut greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from vehicles and filed its
notice of proposed rule making with the Secretary of State's Office. 

The new rules are being developed pursuant to an Executive Order on
climate change issued last year by Gov. Janet Napolitano. The Arizona
Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG), which Gov. Napolitano appointed,
unanimously recommended that Arizona adopt the new GHG reduction
standards.

The proposed rules include tailpipe emission standards for new vehicles,
requirements for the sale of some zero-emissions vehicles in the state
and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions overall from new vehicles sold
in Arizona. 

"This is an important step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions in
Arizona and is a critical element in our effort to address climate
change," ADEQ Director Owens said. "Our goal is to have a final rule
approved by late spring or early summer."

During 1990-2005, greenhouse gas emissions in Arizona grew by 56
percent, the fastest rate of growth in the country. If unchecked,
Arizona's GHG emissions are projected to grow by 140 percent between
1990-2020 and by 200 percent between 1990-2040. Roughly 40 percent of
Arizona's GHG emissions come from vehicles. 

"If we're going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Arizona we need to
cut emissions from vehicles," Director Owens said.

The rules will apply to vehicles beginning with the 2011 model year.
Arizona's rules will be based on the Clean Car program adopted by the
State of California. States are authorized under the federal Clean Air
Act to adopt California's vehicle emissions standards. 

California's standards will become effective when the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency grants a waiver to California under the Clean Air Act.
EPA announced in late December that it had decided to deny the waiver to
California. Arizona has joined 15 other states in a lawsuit brought by
California against the EPA to reverse EPA's decision to deny the waiver
and to uphold the right of states to regulate greenhouse gas pollution
from automobiles.

In addition to California, 12 other states have adopted the California
GHG vehicle standards. They are Connecticut, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Along with Arizona, at least four
other states - Colorado, Florida, Montana and Utah - also have announced
plans to adopt the California GHG vehicle standards.

-30-

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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