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Department of Ecology Press Release - October 11, 2005
05-252
OLYMPIA - The public will have an opportunity to discuss regulations needed to enact Washington's new clean-car law at a series of public meetings scheduled by the Department of Ecology (Ecology).
The federal Clean Air Act allows states to adopt automobile emission standards that are more stringent than federal standards. This spring, the Legislature enacted and the governor signed clean-car standards that require better pollution controls on vehicles.
Ecology plans to adopt the new standards by December so that the new law will apply to 2009 model-year vehicles. Federal law requires that auto manufacturers be given lead time of at least two model years so they can adapt to a state's new regulations.
The new regulations were developed with the help of an advisory group, which included representatives from new and used car dealers, auto manufacturers, environmental and consumer groups, and government. The main areas of the rule on which Ecology and the advisory group focused include: * How requirements are phased in. * Data reporting requirements for dealers and manufacturers. * Vehicle inspection and dealer compliance measures. * Vehicle registration processes.
In Washington, motor vehicles are the source of more than half of the emissions of air pollutants that cause cancer, asthma and other health problems. Death and illness related to air pollution costs Washington's economy at least $500 million a year.
Motor vehicles also produce more than half of the greenhouse-gas emissions linked to global warming. Some of the environmental effects attributed to global warming in Washington include reduced snow pack, low summer stream flows, more winter flooding, increased coastal erosion, low water supplies for people and agriculture, and loss of salmon habitat.
Public meetings are scheduled for:
The public comment period on the plan will end Nov. 18. Mail comments to Brett Rude, Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA, 98504. Comments can also be e-mailed to brud461@ecy.wa.gov or faxed to 360-407-7534. To review the regulations on the Web and get more information, go to http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/cars/NewCarStuff/NewCarInformation.htm.
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Contact: Glenn Kuper, public information manager, 360-407-6848.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
