Northeast Group Wants the EPA to Measure up

Reuters Wire Service reported that U.S. Northeast state air associations on December 8 put the U.S. EPA on notice of its expectation of the agency regarding reduced sulfur levels in gasoline and tougher existing air-pollution standards for automobile tailpipe emissions.

The communication by the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) came in advance of an expected early 1999 release of new EPA rules restricting pollution from motor vehicles and mandating lower sulfur content in gasoline.

In its letter to Air and Radiation Administrator Robert Perciasepe, NESCAUM said that regulations recently adopted in California should serve as a "benchmark" for the agency.

``California's adoption of LEV (Low Emission Vehicle) II standards proves that continuous progress in emissions reductions for motor vehicles is feasible and cost effective,'' said

"Our analysis indicates that the federal TIER 2 motor vehicle emission standards and fuel sulfur limits must achieve similar emission reductions to enable attainment in the Northeast," NESCAUM Executive Director Jason Grumet said in his letter.

The California LEV program started in 1990, and set tighter limits on emissions pollution for cars through the model year 2003. LEV II, and TIER II on the federal level, are second phase programs and would restrict air standards on vehicles starting for the model year 2004.

EPA Administrator Carol Browner the week of November 30 said that the agency would release the new rules by February but demurred to divulge whether the agency would adopt California-style regulations.

NESCAUM comprises air associations from the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.