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Move Also Would Reignite Controversial Plan by Major States to Set Own CO2 Standards



An effort by Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski to overturn the EPA's ruling that greenhouse gases endanger public health could disrupt plans to set a national standard for automotive greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy, according to the Department of Transportation.


In a letter sent Friday to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the chief counsel for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - NHTSA - said that if the EPA were stripped of authority to regulate greenhouse gases the result would cripple NHTSA's efforts to implement a national fuel economy standard.


NHTSA is the Transportation Department unit charged with drafting fuel economy rules - which are inextricably tied to greenhouse gas regulation because consumption of gasoline, diesel and other carbon-based fuels in cars and trucks is a major contributor to atmospheric carbon dioxide and other gases that can trap heat in the atmosphere.


Furthermore, NHTSA counsel O. Kevin Vincent wrote, approval of Murkowski's resolution, which was cosponsored by 35 Republicans and three Democrats, would throw open the specter of individual states imposing their own greenhouse gas standards -a nightmare scenario for federal regulators and for the auto industry.
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Tags: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Legislation, EPA, Fuel Economy Standards, Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Ruling Thretened, NHTSA

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NHTSA Says Federal Fuel Economy Rules Jeopardized by Bid to Void GHG Ruling was originally published by Green Car Advisor. Read the full story by clicking here.