Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell joined environmental agency leaders in 9 other states and the District of Columbia Monday in opposing the rollback of EPA's vehicle emission standards.

The April 2 letter was signed by the states of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, and the District of Columbia.

In addition, Gov. Tom Wolf issued this statement Wednesday on the issue--  “The EPA’s plan to weaken fuel economy standards hurts Pennsylvania's consumers, workers, and everyone who wants to breathe cleaner air. Fuel economy standards are lowering gas bills, spurring innovation to create jobs, keeping air cleaner, and creating demand for cleaner domestic energy and renewable technology.

“The current standards have led to the development of new technologies, manufacturing innovation, and new jobs throughout the U.S., while reducing consumer expenditures on gasoline. These standards were developed with substantial public input and rely on scientific evidence to promote advanced vehicle technologies and reduce air pollution, while saving Pennsylvanians at the pump.

“Rolling back these standards will cost consumers every time they fuel up and is another example of the Trump Administration’s disregard for its responsibility to protect the health and safety of American citizens. At a time when advanced manufacturers are expanding in Pennsylvania and developing the next generation of clean vehicle technologies, we need to encourage innovation, not turn back the clock. I strongly urge the EPA to prioritize public health over special interests and abandon this reckless plan to roll back fuel savings standards.”

The text of the April 2 letter follows--

Dear Administrator Pruitt:

As the environmental agency heads for the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, and the District of Columbia, we write to express our deep concern with your decision to initiate rulemaking to weaken the national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for model year (MY) 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles.

This decision does not comport with a thorough technical record demonstrating the need for and feasibility of these critical environmental standards. Any weakening of the standards would increase pollution from cars and light trucks, with adverse public health and environmental impacts.

Further, it would come at a high cost to consumers forced to pay more at the pump. We strongly urge EPA not to proceed with a new rulemaking, and to leave in place the light-duty vehicle regulations as finalized in 2012.

These standards, which were established after exhaustive technical analysis and with the full support of industry and states, could in fact be stronger, as improvements to advanced fuel- saving technologies continue to be introduced at a faster pace than envisioned in the rule.

States and our nation need to continue to increase efforts to reduce air pollutant emissions, and cars and trucks are among the largest source of these contaminants.

The U.S. has always been a world leader in the automobile industry, and part of this success has been the result of government promoting the most advanced vehicle technologies.

The fundamental principles of cooperative federalism that are embodied in the Clean Air Act (CAA) and other federal environmental statutes recognize the important right of states to go beyond federal requirements when necessary to protect the public health and welfare of their citizens.

We strongly urge you to respect California’s independent authority under CAA § 209(b) to set its own motor vehicle standards and the right of other states under CAA § 177 to adopt those standards to meet our environmental challenges.

California’s special role has been recognized for the past half century by EPA Administrators on a bipartisan basis and has been a vital part of the architecture of our nation’s response to air pollution.

In granting a waiver for California’s existing light-duty vehicle GHG standards, EPA has already determined that California met its burden under § 209(b). An even stronger waiver case exists today based on the expanding body of scientific evidence establishing the nexus between human activity and climate change.

Moreover, there continues to be Congress granted in § 177 to other states to adopt and enforce California standards that are more broad bipartisan support for the authority protective of public health and welfare.

For these reasons, we strongly urge you to leave both EPA’s current GHG standards for MY 2022-25 and California's waiver intact.

Click Here for a copy of the letter.

NewsClips:

DEP Joins Other States To Oppose Rollback Of Vehicle Fuel Economy Standards

EPA Moves To Weaken Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Rules

Editorial: Trump’s EPA Rollback Of Vehicle Clean Air Standards Means Dirtier Air

Sisk: Poll: Climate Change Causing Problems For Significant Number Of Pennsylvanians

Lackawanna State Park To Host Global Warming Talk With Aquatic Biologist Ed Perry April 12

Steyer Climate Alliance Hits PA Roadblock After Trump Ditched Paris Accord

Federal Judge Stays Methane Rule Litigation While Government Reconsiders Rule

[Posted: April 4, 2018]

4/9/2018