01/21/2009 GAAS:023:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Sends Letter to President Obama Urging Reconsideration of California’s Waiver Request for Cleaner Cars
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
today sent the following letter to President Barack Obama requesting that he
direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to act promptly and favorably
in reconsidering California's request for a Clean Air Act waiver so we can
reduce global warming pollution from passenger vehicles.
Text of the letter:
January 21, 2009
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
I join many others in congratulating you on taking office
during this time of historic change in administrations and in national
policies. One of these areas of change must be our nation's response to
global climate change.
For four years, California and a growing number of
farsighted states have sought to enforce a common-sense policy to reduce
global-warming pollution from passenger vehicles, which are the source of 20
percent of our nation's greenhouse gas emissions. Regulation will not only
reduce these emissions, but will also save drivers money and reduce our
nation's dependence on imported oil.
However, last March, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) made what we believe was a fundamentally flawed decision to deny California's
request for the Clean Air Act waiver necessary to enforce our regulation.
Today, the California Air Resources Board wrote to EPA
Administrator-designee Lisa Jackson to request that she immediately reconsider
the waiver based on clear legal standards. I have enclosed a copy of the
Board's letter.
Your administration has a unique opportunity to both support
the pioneering leadership of these states and move America toward global
leadership on addressing climate change. I ask that you direct the U.S.
EPA to act promptly and favorably on California's reconsideration request so
that we may continue the critical work of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions
and their impact on global climate change.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Enclosure
cc: The Honorable Jan Brewer,
Governor of Arizona
The
Honorable M. Jodi Rell, Governor of Connecticut
The
Honorable John Baldacci, Governor of Maine
The
Honorable Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland
The Honorable
Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts
The
Honorable Jon Corzine, Governor of New Jersey
The
Honorable Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico
The
Honorable David Paterson, Governor of New York
The
Honorable Ted Kulongoski, Governor of Oregon
The
Honorable Edward Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania
The
Honorable Don Carcieri, Governor of Rhode Island
The
Honorable Jim Douglas, Governor of Vermont
The
Honorable Chris Gregoire, Governor of Washington
