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GE 541 Lecture 10. Air Pollution: Policies & Implementation. Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act of 1965. 3 Major Revisions - 1970 - 1977 and - 1990 Amendments. 3 Different Approaches. A. National technology mandates on auto manufacturers
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GE 541 Lecture 10 Air Pollution: Policies & Implementation
Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act of 1965 3 Major Revisions - 1970 - 1977 and - 1990 Amendments
3 Different Approaches A. National technology mandates on auto manufacturers (Emission Control Systems) and oil companies (Market Cleaner Funds) B. Mandates on state governments to curb motorist’s auto use & maintain emission control systems in working order C. Requirements that transport infrastructure investments be consistent with NAAQS.
Policies have achieved important successes Between 1970 & 1995 VMT doubled, but all auto emissions declined on a vehicle mile basis Ambient air quality has improved in SMSAs
Still Air Quality still a challenge EPA has new standards for ozone and particulate matter Also GHG issue
An assessment of the effectiveness of these policies Have all three elements of US strategy contributed to effectiveness
Overall Strategy:1. Successful 2. Changing personal behavior? 3. Useful
Impacts of Air Pollutants Ozone - lung tissues & functions PM - respiratory problems CO - O2 delivery to blood Lead - affects major organs, especially in children Nox - lungs & respiratory functions
Regulatory Standards National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) - set exclusively on the basis of their effects on human health, permitting CB considerations, among others, to come into play only in the choice of policies to achieve the health- based standards. EPA periodically reviews the standards. Ozone & PM standards reviewed in 1997.
Total Vehicle Miles Traveled and Highway Vehicle Emissions, 1970 - 95
Great Success Between 1970 & 1996 Lead Emissions by 98% CO by 31% VOC by 38% However, Agg. Nox by 8% (declined on per mile basis) Particulates by 137%
Non Attainment Areas 1990 1997 92 (ozone) 59 (ozone) 42 (CO) 28 (CO)
Vehicle Miles more than 100% (1970 - 95%) Between 1970 - 95 CO emissions 39% by VMT 72% Nox 0.9% 55% PM 34% 70% Lead 99.9% > 99.9%
Percentage Change in Transportation Emissions for Selected Major Metropolitan Areas, 1985 - 94
Federal Emission Standards for Passenger Cars(grams per mile)
Gasoline Cars (1994 standards) designed to meet 1994 standards, emit 97% less HC 96% less CO 88% less Nox 73% less PM than the uncontrolled vehicles prior to 1960s cars
Technology - Forcing Strategy - Mass production of catalytic converters - 50,000 mile useful lives - Auto industry resistant this pace - Adjustments made
However, many SMSAs could not meet NAAQS under 1977 amendments 1990 amendments enacted under Bush I (Reagan government objected)
1990 Act - a new round of emissions reductions 1990 law (like its predecessors) authorized California to impose stricter standards Emissions < than Tier 1 (1990 law) Zero emission vehicles by 1998, 10% market share by 2003. Other states can opt out for California standards California standards for 40% of auto market
National Low Emitting Vehicles (NLEV) Recent push for hybrid & electric vehicles
Fuel Standards 1990 act banning lead by 1995 also ‘oxygenated’ fuel in winter to reduce CO in NAAs and ‘reformulated’ gasoline in summer to reduce HC
A small number of firms targeted - significant change in product technology Sound and fury - litigation & negotiation Job loss & inflation vs. improved air quality
Cost Effectiveness of Technology Measures in Reducing Hydrocarbon Emissions(dollars)
Early control efforts highly cost effective - also gasoline reformulations California cars and alternative vehicles - higher costs for them Experimental technologies different
Changing driver behavior Reducing use difficult Vehicle maintenance progress - better success
Transportation Controls - Parking supply restrictions - Taxes & surcharges on parking - Downtown access restrictions - Mandatory I & M for emission control devices - Retrofit of vechiles with control devices
Such policies highly controversial Many states refused to submit transport control plans EPA developed plans for 19 SMSAs (that had policies many states would not buy) Difficulty in implementing such policies
Congress enacted amendments restricting EPA’s authority to use price-based policies (road user tolls & parking surchages) EPA abandoned Federal Control Plans
1990 Act gave states latitude in drawing up implementation plans - but had two penalties Two Sanctions: - Denial of Federal Highway Aid - Imposition of stricter new-source offset requirements Threat of funds loss if transportation plans inconsistent with air quality
1990 Act strengthened by 1991 ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act) ISTEA provided core financial support & provided institutional processes to achieve them The balance between regulatory ambitions and economic - technical realism (1990 act) reinforced by ISTEA
1. Employee Commute Option Program - initially mandatory, later voluntary 2. I & M Program But nobody wanted to try congestion pricing demonstration program
Behavioral Change Policy Difficult to sustain viable threats against non-compliance Voluntary programs (ride-sharing, telecommuting, improved transit, compressed work week) - here some compliance
Cost-Effectiveness of Transportation Control Measures in Reducing Hydrocarbon Emissions (dollars)