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Regulatory

Announcement

 Printed on Recycled Paper

United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

Air and Radiation EPA420-F-97-047

December 1997

Office of Mobile Sources

Final Rule for the National Low

Emission Vehicle Program

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a final rule

representing the next step in establishing a voluntary nationwide

program to make new cars significantly cleaner burning than today’s

current cars. The National Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program

represents an alternative, more effective method of regulatory

development through extensive interaction between EPA and

stakeholders. When implemented, this program will achieve substantial

air pollution reductions nationwide while providing the automotive

industry flexibility to meet the new requirements in the most efficient

manner.

Overview of Rulemaking

The National LEV program was developed through an unprecedented,

cooperative effort by the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) states,

auto manufacturers, environmentalists, fuel providers, EPA and other

interested parties. The OTC states and environmentalists provided the

opportunity for this cooperative effort by pushing for adoption of the

California Low Emission Vehicle (CAL LEV) program throughout the

northeast Ozone Transport Region. Under EPA’s leadership, the states,

auto manufacturers, environmentalists, and other interested parties then

embarked on a process to develop a voluntary National LEV program, a

process marked by extensive public participation and a focus on joint

problem solving.
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This rule finalizes the regulations for the National LEV program. It is

now up to the OTC states and the auto manufacturers to determine

whether the program will come into effect. Under the National LEV

program, auto manufacturers will have the option of agreeing to comply

with tailpipe standards that are more stringent than EPA can mandate

prior to model year (MY) 2004. Once manufacturers commit to the

program, the standards will be enforceable in the same manner that other

federal motor vehicle emissions control requirements are enforceable.

Manufacturers have indicated their willingness to volunteer to meet

these tighter emissions standards if EPA and the OTC states agree to

certain conditions, including providing manufacturers with regulatory

stability and reducing regulatory burdens by harmonizing federal and

California motor vehicle emissions standards. The program will go into

effect nationwide two model years after it begins in the Northeast.

Health and Environmental Benefits

National LEV vehicles will be 70 percent cleaner than today’s models.

The National LEV program will result in substantial reductions in nonmethane organic gases (NMOG) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), which

contribute to unhealthy levels of smog in many areas across the country.

Emission reduction estimates are based on a start date of MY1999 in the

Northeast and MY 2001 nationwide:

• NOx will be reduced by 496 tons per day in 2007.

• NMOG will be reduced by 311 tons per day in 2007.

The National LEV program will also result in reductions in toxic air

pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and 1,3 butadiene. Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen, while the others are

considered probable carcinogens.

Affect on Industry

This voluntary program provides auto manufacturers flexibility in

meeting the associated standards as well as the opportunity to harmonize

their production lines and build vehicles more efficiently.

EPA currently estimates that National LEV vehicles will cost an additional $95 above the price of vehicles available today, but it is expected

that, due to factors such as economies of scale and historical trends
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related to emission control costs, the actual per vehicle cost will be even

lower. This incremental cost is less than 0.5 percent of the price of an

average new car.

This rule does not affect existing individual state mandates for electric

vehicles, which continues to remain a state/auto issue. The parties have

decided to resolve this issue outside of the National LEV process.

Furthermore, the National LEV program will not require any change in

the types of fuel currently available in the marketplace.

Assisting the States

When the Northeastern States and auto manufacturers opt into the

program, the resulting program will provide substantial emission reductions to the Northeast states that otherwise would only be available

through individual state-by-state adoption of California’s motor vehicle

regulations. When implemented, the National LEV program will help

states improve the air quality in ozone nonattainment areas, which affect

102 million citizens. In addition, the program will reduce pressure to

make further, more costly emission reductions from stationary industrial

sources.

For More Information

For further information on the National LEV Program, please contact

Karl Simon at:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Mobile Sources (6401)

401 M Street SW

Washington, DC 20460

(202) 260-3623

simon.karl@epamail.epa.gov

The final rule and other documents on the National LEV Program are

available electronically from the EPA Internet server at:

http:/www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/lev-nlev.htm