05/18/2009 GAAS:249:09 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement Regarding National Vehicle Greenhouse Emissions Standards
Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger today released the following statement regarding national
vehicle greenhouse emissions standards:
"California's relentless push for greenhouse gas reductions
from automobiles is paying off not just for our state, but for all Americans,
for our environment, for automakers and our economy. This historic agreement to
reduce greenhouse gases will mean cleaner air for our children and
grandchildren, greater economic security as we rely less on foreign oil, and a
chance at renewal for our auto industry. Today, we're seeing what happens when
California leads on energy and the environment and doesn't waiver, doesn't get
bogged down, doesn't let obstacles get in the way.
California's Road to Reducting Vehicle Emissions
July 22,
2002: The Road Begins With Landmark Legislation, From Which The Air Resources
Board (ARB) Developed Regulations. Assemblymember Fran Pavley
authored AB 1493, first-in-the-world legislation to require automakers to limit
heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), it was signed by Governor Gray
Davis. California has been working for over six years to exercise its right to
implement this legislation to reduce global warming pollution from all new cars
and trucks sold in the state. (Natural Resources Defense Council,
"California Gov. Gray Davis Signs Landmark CO2 Pollution Measure; New Law Uses
Power Of American Know-How To Tackle Global Warming," Press Release,
7/22/02)
December 21, 2005: The Schwarzenegger Administration Began The Process
Of Requesting A Waiver From The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)
To Implement Its Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards.
Thirteen Other
States Have Since Adopted California's Standards Including: Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and
Washington. (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Governor
Schwarzenegger Sends Letter to President Obama Urging Reconsideration of
California's Waiver Request for Cleaner Cars," Press Release,
1/21/09)
- December 21, 2005: After an extensive regulatory process over two years, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) requested a waiver of federal preemption of California's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards to allow California to enforce its adopted emissions standards to reduce carbon dioxide and other vehicular greenhouse gas emissions. (Catherine Witherspoon, Air Resources Board Executive Officer, Letter To U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson, 12/21/05)
- April 10, 2006: Governor Schwarzenegger wrote to President Bush to reiterate the urgency of approving California's request, note that California's proposed regulations had been adopted by ten other states, and ask for assistance in directing the EPA to grant California's waiver without further delay. (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Letter From Gov. Schwarzenegger To President Bush Regarding Greenhouse Gas Emissions Waiver," Press Release, 4/10/06)
- October 24, 2006: Nearly one year after California's initial request, the Governor wrote again urging the President to take action on California's waiver request, writing "I urge you to take this action so that California can continue to be a global leader in the regulation of vehicle emissions and help stimulate American economic growth with the development of new industries and technologies in this area." (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor Of California, Letter To President George W. Bush, 10/24/06)
April 2,
2007: The U.S. Supreme Court Determines U.S. EPA Has Authority To Regulate
Greenhouse Gases. (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Gov. Schwarzenegger issues
statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision On Regulation Of Greenhouse
Gases," Press Release,
4/2/07)
April 11, 2007: The EPA's Failure To Act On California's Waiver
Request Prompted The Governor To Travel To Washington D.C. To Meet Face-To-Face
With EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson. The Governor met with U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Administrator Stephen Johnson in Washington D.C. to push
California's request for a federal waiver to restrict auto emissions. Included
in the meeting were former Assemblymember Fran Pavley and Linda Adams,
California's Secretary for Environmental Protection. (Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Gov. Schwarzenegger Lobbies For California's
Federal Waiver To Set Strict Vehicle Emissions Standards," Press Release, 4/11/07)
April 25, 2007: Governor Schwarzenegger Notified U.S. EPA Of
California's Intent To Sue If The Agency Continued To Ignore California's
Waiver Request. More than sixteen months after California first requested a
federal waiver to limit vehicular greenhouse gas emissions including tailpipe
emissions Governor Schwarzenegger sent a letter to EPA Administrator
Stephen Johnson requesting that EPA issue its decision on California's request
within 180 days in order to avoid legal action by California Air Resources
Board (CARB). (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Governor Schwarzenegger Warns
U.S. EPA Of California's Intent To Sue If Federal Government Fails To Act On
Waiver To Reduce Emissions," Press Release,
4/25/07)
- November 8, 2007: Governor Schwarzenegger announced that California, and fourteen other states had filed suit against U.S. EPA for its failure to act on California's request for a waiver to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Governor Schwarzenegger Announces Lawsuit against U.S. EPA," Press Release, 11/8/07)
December 19, 2007: After Nearly Two Years Of Delay, U.S. EPA Denied California's Waiver Request. The Governor was disappointed by the decision and promised that "we will continue to fight this battle. California sued to compel the agency to act on our waiver, and now we will sue to overturn today's decision and allow Californians to protect our environment." (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement after U.S. EPA Rejects California's Tailpipe Emissions Waiver Request," Press Release, 12/19/07)
- December 20, 2007: Governor Schwarzenegger announced his intention to file a lawsuit in the District of Columbia Court of Appeals to challenge the U.S. EPA denial of California's waiver request. (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Intent To Appeal Denial Of California's Tailpipe Emissions Waiver Request," Press Release, 12/20/07)
- January 2, 2008: California filed suit in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Governor Schwarzenegger Announces EPA Suit Filed to Reverse Waiver Denial," Press Release, 1/2/08)
January
23, 2008: Governor Schwarzenegger And Thirteen Other Governors Sent A Letter To
U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson Regarding California's Waiver Denial. The
fourteen governor's wrote: "Your decision to deny California its waiver
ignores federal law and the reality of climate change ... we find your reasons
for denying California's request for a waiver of federal preemption unsound ...
we stand by our commitment to bring cleaner cars to our states." (Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Text Of Letter From Gov. Schwarzenegger and 13
other governors regarding U.S. EPA's Denial Of California's Tailpipe Emissions
Waiver Request," Press
Release, 1/23/08)
March
6, 2008: U.S. EPA Issues Formal Waiver Denial, The
former EPA Administrator provided weak reasoning to conclude California did not
have compelling and extraordinary conditions warranting a waiver.
- May 5, 2008 - Governor Schwarzenegger files suit in D.C. Circuit challenging EPA denial
April 2, 2008: Governor Schwarzenegger Issued
A Statement On The U.S. EPA's Continued Failure To Grant California's Its
Tailpipe Emissions Waiver. The Governor said: "It has
been a full year since the Supreme Court declared that greenhouse gases are
pollutants which should be regulated by the federal government, but the U.S.
EPA has refused to grant California's waiver that would allow us and 19 other
states to improve our quality of life by setting tougher vehicle emissions
levels." (Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues
Statement on Continued U.S. EPA Inaction on Greenhouse Gases Despite Supreme
Court Ruling," Press
Release, 4/2/08)
May 8, 2008: Governor Schwarzenegger Met With
U.S. Automakers To Discuss Clearer Cars And California's Continued Push To
Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Vehicles. The
Governor said, "California may be doing more to save the U.S. auto
industry than anyone else because we are pushing them to change ... California
will not back down in the fight to protect our own environment ... We will
continue to press the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to grant our request
for a waiver, and we will use legal remedies if they fail to do so." (Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Gov. Schwarzenegger Issues Statement Following
Meeting with Automakers," Press
Release, 5/8/08)
July 11, 2008: U.S. EPA Announced That It
Would Not Pursue New Steps To Regulate GHG Emissions Before The Close Of The
Bush Administration. Governor Schwarzenegger said, "Whoever
is elected to be the next occupant of the White House will be a leader on the
environment, and California will continue working to protect our environment
and grow our economy at the same time." (Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger, "Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement On U.S. EPA
Emissions Regulations Announcement," Press Release, 7/11/08)
January 21, 2009: Governor Schwarzenegger Requested That President
Obama Review What He Called A "Fundamentally Flawed" Decision Made By
U.S. EPA In Denying California's Waiver Request. In
Conjunction with a letter sent by CARB Chairman Mary Nichols, Governor
Schwarzenegger sent a letter to President Obama requesting that he direct the
U.S. EPA to act promptly and favorably on California's reconsideration request,
saying that California and thirteen other states are prepared to both reduce
emissions and America's dependence on imported oil. (Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Governor Schwarzenegger Sends Letter to President
Obama Urging Reconsideration of California's Waiver Request for Cleaner
Cars," Press Release,
1/21/09)
January 26, 2009: President Obama Directed Federal Regulators To
Review California's And 13 Other States Request To Set Automobile Emissions And
Fuel Efficiency Standards. Governor Schwarzenegger said,
""With this announcement from President Obama less than a week into
his administration, it is clear that California and the environment now have a
strong ally in the White House ... My administration has been fighting for this
waiver since 2005 and we will not give up until it is granted." (Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Gov. Schwarzenegger Applauds President Obama's
Commitment To Move Swiftly To Allow California To Reduce Emissions From
Cars," Press Release,
1/26/09)
