Tailpipe Pollution To Rise Under Proposed Transportation Law

Environmental Defense, joined by state air pollution control agencies and a broad coalition of environmental leaders, today opposed proposed amendments to the Clean Air Act that would weaken states’ and cities’ ability to cut pollution from the transportation sector.  In what may be the only hearing in Congress on this issue, the House T&I Committee is considering these changes in a hearing today.

“At a time when half the country fails to meet healthy air standards, it makes little sense to undermine the Clean Air Act’s healthy air targets for tailpipe pollution,” said Environmental Defense transportation director Michael Replogle.  “Instead, Congress should give states the tools they need to deliver clean transportation and healthy air.  Cleaning up pollution from cars and trucks is good for health, good for quality of life and good for business.  These proposals would drive up future costs of getting clean air.” 

In testimony today, Environmental Defense is asking Congress to protect the Clean Air Act and give states and cities better tools, encouraging smarter growth, congestion pricing and incentive-based car insurance, that will speed compliance with healthy air targets.  Copies of testimony are available at www.environmentaldefense.org/go/conformity. 

According to the EPA, half of all Americans live in communities that to meet fail basic healthy air standards set by the EPA.   Motor vehicles emit up to half the pollution in major cities and account for an even larger proportion of the health risk from air pollution.  According to EPA data (www.scorecard.org), tailpipe pollution accounts for up to 80% of the air cancer risk in many major cities. 

Congress is considering changes to the 1990 Clean Air Act that requires metropolitan areas’ transportation plans to achieve health-based air quality targets.  Changes proposed in one or both of the Senate or House transportation bills would weaken these requirements and —

• Shorten the time horizon for considering pollution impact - a highway project with 20 years’ worth of pollution would only have to account for the first 10 years’ worth of pollution. 
• Allow excess emissions from motor vehicles (beyond region-wide limits) to continue unchecked for 4 years, making future corrective action more difficult and expensive. 
• Delay and set aside current limits on motor vehicle pollution in metro areas that violate the national ozone pollution standard. According to EPA, during the multi-year delay without limits, motor vehicle emissions could increase by 10% to 50% above the levels now allowed.
• Hamper or expand the ability of states to use market incentives, like congestion pricing and mileage-based car insurance, that can help drivers save money, expand travel choices, and clean the air.