PennFuture Applauds Passage of Clean Car Rules by IRRC

HARRISBURG, Pa.--Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) today praised the Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) for voting 4 - 1 to approve new regulations requiring cars sold in the Commonwealth to meet more protective pollution standards beginning with the 2008 model year. The regulations were first proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under Governor Tom Ridge, but were delayed. The Rendell Administration sought approval to allow implementation to move forward, despite opposition from well-funded out-of-state special interests.

“The IRRC decision recognizes both the importance of these regulations to clean the air, lower demand and price of gasoline and improve our energy security, as well as the overwhelming support for these regulations by citizens throughout the state,” said John Hanger, President and CEO of PennFuture. “With less pollution being released, we should see fewer asthma attacks, other breathing problems and cardiac problems, all of which are exacerbated by pollution from cars and trucks. That is great news for the health of one million Pennsylvanians who have respiratory problems.

“This new rule will also help us attract new businesses,” said Hanger. “As new cleaner cars replace older and more polluting autos, most Pennsylvania counties will finally be able to meet clean air standards for ozone smog pollution, eliminating a major impediment to new businesses moving in.”

The Clean Vehicles Program will allow Pennsylvanians to purchase the most technologically advanced, fuel-efficient and cleanest cars, striking a blow against our addiction to foreign oil from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The Clean Vehicles Program will also protect Pennsylvania jobs and industry, since federal law requires the Commonwealth to cut air pollution. The clean cars program cuts one-third of that pollution, avoiding stricter standards on many businesses.

Some legislative leaders have attempted to circumvent the public process by intervening with legislation to kill the new rule. The proposed legislation, SB1025, passed the Senate in February, but – because of public support for the new rule expressed during the public comment period – was considered dead by most observers. But on October 17, SB1025 was raced through the House Transportation Committee, after a full-page ad paid for by out-of-state special interests appeared in the Harrisburg Patriot-News, and less than 24 hours after the committee leadership suddenly announced the consideration of the bill. House leadership then put the bill on a fast track, to be considered on the last voting day of the House session before the election break. The leadership failed to bring the bill up for a vote, however, due to public outcry.

The IRRC approval is the last regulatory approval needed before implementation of the Clean Vehicles Program. But the legislature could still attempt to kill the program in the legislative lame duck session later this month.

“We urge the legislature to abide by the IRRC decision and let the clean cars program become law,” concluded Hanger. “Cleaner air with fewer emergency room visits; lower demand and price for gasoline; less dependence on oil imported from countries that are often opposed to us, and elimination of barriers to recruiting new businesses all mean money in the bank — and a better, healthier Pennsylvania for all.”

The Clean Vehicles Program standards were developed by the state of California, and are the only option besides the weak standards of the federal government. Other states, including Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Oregon, Washington and California, already participate in the program.

PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization that advances policies to protect and improve the state’s environment and economy. With offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and West Chester, PennFuture’s activities include litigating cases before regulatory bodies and in local, state and federal courts, advocating and advancing legislative action on a state and federal level, public education and assisting citizens in public advocacy.