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Lawmakers Disagree on Emissions Standards

Posted on: Tuesday, 13 December 2005, 15:00 CST

By Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Dec. 13--HARRISBURG -- Lawmakers are at odds over the enactment of stiffer auto emissions standards.

The regulations, which were adopted under former Gov. Tom Ridge, are scheduled to take effect next year but some legislators want to keep the current lower standards or eliminate emissions inspections entirely.

The stiffer standards are based on California emissions requirements, which set lower limits for six pollutants in auto exhaust.

The House yesterday was scheduled to vote on a repeal but instead referred the issue back to the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. The Senate is considering identical repeal legislation.

Lawmakers calling for a repeal say California shouldn't determine what's best for Pennsylvania and that low-emissions cars are more expensive and that vehicle exhaust is already cleaner than ever.

Those in favor of the stiffer California standards rebutted those arguments during a news conference yesterday.

California won't be dictating standards here because Pennsylvania would not be bound to changes made there and auto manufacturers have exaggerated the cost of producing lower-emissions vehicles, they said. Even if lower-emission cars are more expensive, consumers could recoup the added cost in fuel savings because the cars would be more efficient, they said.

Health and environmental considerations are the primary concern, said state Rep. Don Walko, D-North Side.

"We only have one Earth, we only have one atmosphere and we all have only one life to life," said Mr. Walko, whose son has asthma.

Lawmakers should keep children like Mr. Walko's in mind before they cast any votes to repeal, said Dr. Jim Jones, a Harrisburg pediatrician who spoke at the news conference.

"If you've seen a child leaning forward not able to get air out, their eyes are sort of wide and an anxious mother and dad are standing next to them, you'd have a feeling for this," Dr. Jones said. "We must do something."

Repeal-minded lawmakers, though, say the current system is good enough.

"Pennsylvania does have a strong vehicle emission standard in place," according to a letter sent yesterday to the Clean Air Council by senators Roger Madigan, R-Bradford, and Mary Jo White, R-Venango. "Letting California set our vehicle standards is an abrogation of our responsibility."

Pennsylvania could lose federal highway funding if it doesn't clean up its air, said Kate Philips, spokeswoman for Gov. Ed Rendell.

The revenue loss is reason enough not to support the repeal, Miss Philips said.

"Add in the negative effect on the environment and the fact that Gov. Ridge and the Republican-led Legislature had the foresight years ago to begin the implementation, and we believe it is downright foolish to move Pennsylvania in this direction," she said.

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Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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