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Texas Adopts New Vehicle Emissions Program

31 May 2000

    WASHINGTON - The following is a statement by Josephine S. Cooper, President, A
lliance of Automobile Manufacturers, in response to adoption by Texas of 
Federal mobile source emissions standards:

    "Today, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) decided
to adopt the Environmental Protection Agency's 'Tier 2' standards.  For more
than six months, the TNRCC has conducted a rigorous evaluation of air
emissions models and programs.  The Commissioners were thoughtful and thorough
in their deliberations, and they made it clear that they demanded a program
with superior air quality benefits for the State of Texas.  Tier 2 will
deliver the results that Texas needs.

    "The TNRCC had considered California's Low Emission Vehicle 2 (LEV 2)
program, but what works best for California is not necessarily what will work
best for Texas.  The Federal Tier 2 regulations provide greater nitrogen oxide
(NOx) emission reductions than California's LEV 2, and NOx is a concern for
Texas.  In fact, LEV 2 would not have provided the necessary reductions for
Texas to meet its attainment date of 2007.

    "The Federal Tier 2 program is an aggressive, technology-forcing control
program that will provide all of the air quality benefits necessary from motor
vehicles.  It was the right choice for Texas, and it was the right choice to
reduce mobile emissions."

    The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a coalition of 13 car and
light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford
Motor Company, General Motors, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan,
Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.   Alliance member companies have
approximately 600,000 employees in the United States, with more than 250
facilities in 35 states.  Alliance members represent more than 90 percent of
U.S. vehicle sales.