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Department of Ecology News Release - December 4, 2008
08-316
OLYMPIA – A public hearing next week will focus on updates to the state's "clean cars" rule, including requiring a label that describes a new vehicle's emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases.
The 2008 Legislature directed the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) to develop an easy-to-understand label that shows new vehicles' emissions of greenhouse gases and smog. The label should be ready for use in early 2009. It must be displayed on each new passenger car, light-duty truck and medium-duty passenger vehicle (such as most vans and SUVs) sold in Washington. Those vehicles can't be sold without a label.
A public hearing on the rule update starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, in Ecology's auditorium at 300 Desmond Drive SE, Lacey.
Legislators say the label can help educate people about Washington's greenhouse gas sources. The transportation sector – passenger vehicles, freight and construction vehicles, ships, airplanes and trains – emits about 47 percent of Washington's greenhouse gases. That makes it the state's largest single source of such gases.
Ecology is adding the label along with making required updates to the state's low-emission vehicle ("clean car") standards. The 2005 Legislature and Gov. Chris Gregoire adopted California's standards, which are more strict than federal emissions limits. Federal law allows states to adopt California's standards. Washington must update its standards when California's standards change.
Beginning with 2009 models, the "clean car" standards apply to passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty passenger vehicles. They don't apply to vehicles already owned by Washington residents. Find more information at www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/cleancars.htm.
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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848; 360-584-5744 cell; spre461@ecy.wa.gov
See an example of a label: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/cleancars.htm#What_is_the_Environmental_Performance_Label.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
