LINN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 

ROGER NYQUIST	

WILL TUCKER	 JOHN K. LINDSEY 

Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner 

Linn County Courthouse RALPH E. WYA TT 

P.O. Box 100, Albany, Oregon 97321 4qaiinistrativfficer 

Phone: 541-967-3825 Fax: 541-926-8228 ><	- 

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The Honorable Ray LaHood	 The Honorable Lisa Jackson 

Secretary	 Administrator 

Department of Transportation	 Environmental Protection Agency 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE	 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW 

Washington, DC 20590	 Washington, DC 20004 

Dear Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson: 

Today jobs, the economy and energy security are on the minds of every American. As a Linn 

County Commissioner, I am focused on proactive policies to address these critical issues and 

grow Linn County toward a more secure future. Transportation is a critical component of our 

economic vitality and given that your agencies are now developing national fuel economy 

standards for 201 7-2025, I wanted to share my views. 

Safe, efficient and reliable transportation impacts each individual, family and business in Linn 

County. Jobs in the management of freight are all tied to cost effective transportation. With the 

recent increase in gas prices and turmoil in the Middle East, reducing fuel use and dependence 

on foreign oil are on all our minds. I support your efforts to improve fuel economy by laying out 

a long-term program, but encourage you to carefully consider a balanced and thoughtful 

approach. 

I encourage NHTSA and EPA to adopt a single, national fuel economy standard that considers 

America's needs for increased fuel economy while preserving the choices for families and 

businesses to meet their transportation needs without sacrificing affordability, safety, or jobs. 

NHTSA and EPA have already set strong standards for 2012-2016 that raise the fleet average by 

40% to 35 miles per gallon. Looking forward, technology improvements should continue to 

support increases in fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards. However, I recognize that 

overreaching regulations can place a significant cost burden on individuals, families and 

businesses in Linn County.
The Honorable Ray LaHood and 

The Honorable Lisa Jackson 

July 14, 2011 

Page 2 

It is important that standards for 2017-2025 support a broad range of consumer needs in terms 

of utility and function. Americans need a range of vehicles to meet their family and business 

needs. Large families require automobiles with sufficient passenger space, including room for 

multiple child-safety seats in the back. Small businesses need vans and utility vehicles to conduct 

commerce. Agriculture depends on pickup, as do the construction industry and local trades. 

The rare metals industry is an important source of revenue for Linn County, and it depends on 

vehicles to carry out day-to-day business needs. 

Linn County residents all share the need for affordable transportation. The next phase of fuel 

economy standards should not pick winners and losers, but should support a variety of 

technologies and fuel diversity to preserve affordability. If fuel economy standards increase too 

quickly, resulting in more expensive vehicles, many consumers can be expected to hold on to 

their older vehicles longer and defer buying a new car, which could put auto jobs across the 

country at risk and delay compliance with federal air quality standards. Affordability, customer 

choice and job preservation is as much a priority as raising fuel economy. 

As a County Commissioner, I think every day about job creation and security for Linn County. As 

a policymaker, I know that good regulations and laws are often a balancing act of competing 

demands. I encourage you to carefully balance the factors that impact sensible fuel economy 

standards, including consumer choice, affordability and the economic concerns that weigh on 

our nation's fragile recovery. 

Roger Nyquist, Chairman 

Linn County Board of Commissioners
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