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To: Futurist who wrote (3217)	2/18/1999 9:01:00 AM
From: Futurist	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8393

One of two articles about higher energy prices. EPA Said Planning New Auto Emissions Standards (Last updated 2:19 AM ET February 18) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to require light trucks and sport-utility vehicles to meet the same stringent emissions standards as cars, the Washington Post reported Thursday. The newspaper, quoting sources who had been briefed on the plan, said the proposed rules would also require oil companies to produce cleaner gasoline. Both changes would take effect starting in 2004. The EPA proposal would require a nationwide average for sulfur in gasoline of 30 parts per million, phased in from 2004 through 2006, the Post said. The nationwide average is now more than 10 times that level, or about 330 parts per million. The proposed rules also aim to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog. The current standard for emissions of nitrogen oxides from passenger cars limits them to 0.4 grams per mile, but in the Northeast beginning this year --and nationally in 2001 -- the standard becomes 0.2 grams. Under the proposed EPA rules, cars will begin moving to a standard of 0.07 grams per mile in 2004. At the same time light trucks, weighing up to 8,500 pounds, would be required to meet the 0.2 grams-per-mile standard, the newspaper said. They would be required to move to the 0.07 standard in 2009. The current emissions standard for light trucks is 0.7 grams of nitrogen oxides per mile. The EPA proposals would also require the manufacturers of diesel vehicles to produce a cleaner fleet with average emissions of 0.07 grams per mile. Environmentalists said the new rules would improve air quality and reduce acid rain. But the rules would also likely increase gasoline and vehicle costs, the Post said. Light trucks, pickups, vans, minivans and sport-utility models now account for 47.5 percent of all new vehicles sold in the United States. As a group, their average fuel consumption is 20.7 miles per gallon, compared with an average 27.5 miles per gallon for passenger cars, according to the Post. The EPA is expected to send the final draft of the new rules to the Office of Management and Budget for review tomorrow. One auto industry executive told the Post he believed the proposal went too far. But he said the industry would "work hard to put the best light on a bad situation." William F. O'Keefe, executive vice president of the American Petroleum Institute, which represents the oil companies, said the EPA proposals to reduce the sulfur content in gasoline could increase the cost of gasoline by as much as 5 to 6 cents a gallon and would require hard-pressed refiners to spend $5 billion to $6 billion to retool.