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June 4, 2007

Governor calls on EPA to approve emissions rules

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri today urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow California to enact tougher tailpipe emissions standards, given that Rhode Island is among 12 states that have adopted California's regulations, but await the EPA decision.

Carcieri and Vermont Governor James H. Douglas expressed concerns about the EPA’s "slow pace in approving California’s waiver request" in a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.

If EPA approves the waiver, California and the 11 other states could enact tailpipe emissions standards that are tougher than federal requirements.

The "transportation sector" contributes nearly 40 percent of Rhode Island’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the governor's news release.

California requested the waiver allowing it to carry out the new standards 16 month ago.

“These strict standards will make a difference in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the air quality and the health of Rhode Islanders,” Carcieri said in the statement. “Failing to act on California’s request to move forward with these new guidelines has a direct impact on all of us.”

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 4:15 PM | Permalink

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