Maryland Attorney General News Releases: Attorney General Frosh Joins Coalition in Support of EPA Proposal to Restore California Waiver for Clean Car Standards

You are subscribed to News Releases for the Maryland Attorney General. A new press release has been issued.   Did someone forward you this email? Sign up to get our Press Releases in your inbox. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 7, 2021 Media Contacts: press@oag.state.md.us 410-576-7009 Attorney General Frosh Joins Coalition in Support of EPA Proposal to Restore California Waiver for Clean Car Standards BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh joined a coalition of  22 attorneys general, as well as the cities of Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, in a letter supporting the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to restore California's waiver under the Clean Air Act for its greenhouse gas and zero emission vehicle (ZEV) programs.  The coalition also supports the EPA's proposal to rescind its previous determination that Section 177 of the Clean Air Act does not authorize other states to adopt California's greenhouse gas standards for passenger cars and light trucks. California's standards, which already result in emissions reductions of hundreds of thousands of tons annually, are essential components of Maryland and other states' plans to fight climate change and protect public health. "Maryland and numerous other states have adopted California's vehicle emission standards, and our air is cleaner for it," said Attorney General Frosh.  "We are urging the EPA to reverse the pernicious decision of the previous administration and support the efforts of states to combat greenhouse gas emissions." Sixty years ago, California was a pioneer in adopting vehicle emission standards - long before any federal vehicle emission standards even existed.  Since then, California has been granted more than 100 waivers, including in 2013 when the EPA granted California a waiver for its Advanced Clean Cars program.  Six years later, under the Trump Administration, the EPA withdrew California's waiver to set its own greenhouse gas and ZEV standards, which a California-led coalition swiftly challenged in court.  Litigation in that case is currently stayed to permit the current EPA to reconsider. California's clean car standards have been adopted by 13 states representing more than one-third of the U.S. automobile market and are currently under consideration in a number of others.  These standards, which have been implemented in some states for more than a decade, are essential components of state plans to reduce emissions and attain federally mandated National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter and ozone - two pollutants which cause significant adverse health impacts.  According to California Air Resources Board analysis, California's Advanced Clean Cars Program, of which its greenhouse gas and ZEV standards are critical components, is expected to result in a 75% reduction in smog-forming pollution and a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for an average car sold in 2025 as compared to 2012, when the program was adopted.  Not only are these standards crucial for reducing emissions now to combat the threats Maryland's residents face from climate change, but they also drive technological innovation that will enable deeper emissions reductions of all of these harmful pollutants in the future. In addition to Maryland, the letter was joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia, as well as the cities of Los Angeles, New York City, Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose. https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2021/070721.pdf   Stay Connected with the Maryland Attorney General: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe All  |  Help  |   This email was sent to stevenmagallanes520.nims@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maryland Attorney General · 200 St. Paul Place · Baltimore, MD 21202