For those of you wholive in the Commonwealth.

Cars facing stricter emissions limits
By 2008, new vehicles sold in Pennsylvania will meet California's tough regulations

Wednesday, September 20, 2006
By Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

By 2008, all new vehicles sold in Pennsylvania will also be eligible for sale in California because they'll meet the toughest emissions standards in the nation.

The state Environmental Quality Board voted 16-2 yesterday to set 2008 as the implementation date for the next phase of the state's Clean Vehicle Program, which establishes new car and light truck emissions standards identical to those used in California.

The California standards-based program, which New York, New Jersey and seven other states have already adopted, will cut vehicles' volatile organic compound emissions by 12 percent, compared with less stringent federal emissions standards. It will also result in significant reductions in six toxic pollutants, including benzene, a known carcinogen.

And, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection, the lower emissions vehicles will come with no increase in price over those meeting the lesser federal standard.

"Air quality is improving in Pennsylvania, but we need to do more to protect public health and the environment," said Gov. Ed Rendell, who noted that more than half of the state fails to meet federal air quality standards for smog.

"If we want to remain competitive and keep our economy growing, we need to find a way to reduce emissions from mobile sources, which remain a significant contributor to air pollution," Mr. Rendell said.

Vehicles contribute about one-third of the state's smog-producing emissions. Because the number of miles driven by Pennsylvanians increases by more than 2 percent each year, and 37 counties already fail to meet federal smog standards, use of lower-emission vehicles is essential to reducing air pollution and bringing those counties into compliance.

John Hanger, president and chief executive officer of Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, an environmental group, said if the state doesn't get air pollution reductions from its vehicles, it will have to turn to stationary sources for those reductions and that could affect jobs.

"Adopting the cleaner car standard also means cleaner air, which means the world for Pennsylvania's children and seniors," Mr. Hanger said. "With less pollution being released, we should see fewer asthma attacks, other breathing problems and cardiac problems, all of which are exacerbated by pollution from cars and trucks."

Mr. Hanger said cleaner air will also lower health care costs, and the DEP estimates consumer savings from the more efficiently operating low-emission vehicles of between $3.50 and $7 a month in 2016, when most cars in the state will be meeting the new standards.

"Tailpipe standards cost little or nothing in the short term and overall save consumers money, making this the most cost-effective approach," said DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty.

The Clean Vehicle Program was originally adopted in 1998, during the Ridge administration, so that the state could participate in the National Low Emission Vehicle Program. It was supposed to take effect this year, but implementation was delayed by partisan wrangling in the state Senate.

The state's Independent Regulatory Review Commission has 30 days to review the Environmental Quality Board decision; approval is expected.

 

How does this compare to other countries. Japan is the size of California with half the US population in it. How strict are they?

 

Not as strict. California standards are the only ones that completely prohibit diesels, save for the ultra low sulfur, ammonia injection, particulate trap, catalytic convertered, Bluetec thing that Mercedes is working on.

 

<-- Haven't heard of anything like that for this Commonwealth.

 

I expect the country to be running Cali's emission standards within 10 years.

 

I could see it except for the "no diesel" part.

 

It's time for the Feds to put C.A.R.B. out of business.

 

couldnt agree more.

it costs aftermarket companies $15,000 per every product they make to get CARB approved car companies spend millions a year due to CARB. just a way to make money and limit the aftermarket business IMHO

 

well this ****ing sucks.

atleast we don't have emssions testing in adams county

 

It's not really going to affect the driver much. Just the manufacturer.

 

i would expect WW3 before alabama uses california emissions. we're still allowed to run with no cat. it's illegal to take it off but perfectly fine to leave it off.

EDIT: i just realized you were probably referring to japan. if so, then disregard.

 

Baloney. In fact I expect there will be a ballot initiative in PA before too long, rejecting Kalifornia's ridiculously strict limits. The reality is, the worst 20% of the fleet on the roads today put out 90% of the emissions. Car & Driver had an op-ed piece on this a while back. It's not the NEW cars that matter in trying to fix your city's smog problem. They (even the units with lowly Federal emissions compliance) are PLENTY clean. No - the vast bulk of the pollution on the roads today is from those old, smoking clunkers, ill-maintained, with the cat drooping and scraping along the road. C&D called them 'emissions gorillas'. When I lived in Denver, people could get a ticket for simply having 'visible exhaust'. THAT is where I believe the nation will be trending. Kali's standards are WAY off the mark when it comes to solving the real problem. And sorry, the old conventional wisdom of "as Kali goes, so goes the nation"... well that died with the 1980's. Kali is way too messed up today to be a trend leader IMO.

 

We dont have any in Tioga county either. I think and county in the state that has a city has the emmissions testing. Anything to take our freedoms away!!

 

we have emmissions testing here in wapwallopen, but i know the guy and he is not as strick for me

 

No emmisions testing at all here, and I don't see that changing....the day Californias standards become national.....ugh.....hasn't California screwed up enough stuff already?