Senate committee pushes for EPA decision on California waiver deadline

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environment and Public Works Committee approved a bill July 31 that will force a decision from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the California waiver request to regulate greenhouse gases. U.S. Senate Bill 1785 would require the EPA to act on the waiver and allow California to implement a 2004 state regulation designed to reduce emissions from automobiles.

The Clean Air Act dictates that when California air quality rulings are deemed more rigid than federal standards, the state must obtain a waiver allowing for such regulation. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) submitted its formal waiver request in December 2005. Specifically, the waiver request involved a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in 2016. Such a reduction would involve automakers improving vehicle mileage to approximately 43 miles per gallon by 2016.

Following this request, the EPA held public hearings in Virginia and California to gather public comments regarding this appeal for the greenhouse gas measure implementation. To date, however, no formal EPA decision has been made.

While Congress is still waiting to enact federal climate change initiatives, this ruling would put a major state-level program in place. If the EPA grants the waiver request, many states plan to establish the same standards set by California. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, hopes such a ruling will help to move this process forward. The bill approved by the Senate committee would require a decision to be made 30 days after its enactment or by Sept. 30.

To view the text of S. 1785, visit ASA’s legislative Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com. Click on “Information Availability” and then “Background” to access the legislation.