Linda S. Adams

Acting Secretary for 

Environmental Protection

 

The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. 

For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website: http://www.arb.ca.gov. 

California Environmental Protection Agency

Printed on Recycled Paper

Air Resources Board

Mary D. Nichols, Chairman

1001 I Street • P.O. Box 2815 

Sacramento, California 95812 • www.arb.ca.gov Edmund G. Brown Jr.

Governor

July 28, 2011 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

Secretary 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

The Honorable Lisa Jackson 

Administrator 

Environmental Protection Agency 

Ariel Rios Building 

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 

Washington, DC 20460 

Dear Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson: 

California recognizes the benefit for the country of continuing the historic National 

Program to address greenhouse gases and fuel economy that the Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 

and California began in 2009 with the standards for model years 2012 through 2016, 

and that those federal agencies and California are continuing for model years 2017 and 

beyond. 

California fully supports the proposal and adoption of a continued National Program that 

we understand will be subject to full notice-and-comment rulemaking, affording all 

parties, including California, the right to participate fully, comment, and submit 

information, the results of which are not pre-determined but depend upon processes set 

by law. California welcomes the opportunity to be a partner in helping to advance a 

continued, harmonized National Program, which California understands does not alter 

California’s longstanding authority under the Clean Air Act to have its own motor vehicle 

emissions program. California also commits to working with EPA and NHTSA, other 

states, and other stakeholders to help our country address the need to reduce 

dependence on oil, to save consumers money, and to address global climate change by 

continuing this kind of strong, coordinated National Program. 
Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson 

July 28, 2011 

Page 2 

In order to promote the adoption of the continued National Program, California commits 

to take the following actions, subject to the further understandings described thereafter 

below. California also stands ready to enter into any appropriate agreements 

permissible by law to effectuate these commitments. 

(1) California commits that if EPA proposes federal GHG standards and NHTSA 

proposes CAFE standards for model years (MYs) 2017 and beyond 

substantially as described in the July 2011 Notice of Intent, and the agencies 

adopt standards substantially as proposed, California will not contest such 

standards. 

(2) California commits to propose to revise its standards on GHG emissions from 

new motor vehicles for model-years MYs 2017 through 2025, such that 

compliance with the GHG emissions standards adopted by EPA for those 

model years that are substantially as described in the July 2011Notice of 

Intent, even if amended after 2012, shall be deemed compliance with the 

California GHG emissions standards, in a manner that is applicable to states 

that adopt and enforce California’s GHG standards under Clean Air Act 

(CAA) Section 177. 

(3) California commits to propose that its revised ZEV program for the 2018-2021 

MYs include a provision providing that over-compliance with the federal GHG 

standards in the prior model year may be used to reduce in part a 

manufacturer’s ZEV obligation in the next model year. 

California’s commitment to take the above actions contemplates that all of the following 

will occur: 

(1) Manufacturers of motor vehicles and other parties affiliated with such 

manufacturers and/or under their control will use their best efforts to ensure 

that the trade association(s) to which they belong will not contest the actions 

discussed in paragraphs (2) and (3) above or in paragraphs (3) through (6) 

below. 

(2) EPA proposes federal GHG standards and NHTSA proposes CAFE 

standards for MYs 2017 and beyond substantially as described in the July 

2011 Notice of Intent, and the agencies adopt standards substantially as 

proposed. 

(3) Manufacturers of motor vehicles and other parties affiliated with such 

manufacturers and/or under their control, commit that if EPA proposes 
Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson 

July 28, 2011 

Page 3 

national GHG standards and NHTSA proposes CAFE standards for MYs 

2017 and beyond substantially as described in the July 2011 Notice of Intent, 

and the agencies adopt standards substantially as proposed, said parties will 

not contest or challenge any part of those final rules or support any contest 

or challenge of those final rules. 

(4) California submits its amended GHG emissions standards for motor vehicles 

for MYs 2017-2025 to EPA requesting a waiver of preemption under Section 

209 of the CAA, and EPA grants California’s request for MYs 2017-2025. 

(5) Manufacturers of motor vehicles and other parties affiliated with such 

manufacturers and/or under their control commit to not contest or challenge 

any part of California’s emission standards for MYs 2017 through 2025 in 

any state or federal administrative or judicial forum, including but not limited 

to preemption claims relating to the Energy Policy Conservation Act (EPCA) 

or the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, or support any 

such contest or challenge. 

(6) Manufacturers of motor vehicles and other parties affiliated with such 

manufacturers and/or under their control, do not contest or challenge any

part of a final decision by EPA granting California’s eventual request for a 

waiver of preemption under Section 209 of the CAA for model years 2017-

2025, or support any such contest or challenge, but this does not apply to 

subsequent changes made by CARB, including changes resulting from the 

midterm evaluation. 

(7) California will fully participate in the mid-term evaluation, however, California 

reserves all rights to contest final actions taken or not taken by EPA or 

NHTSA as part of or in response to the mid-term evaluation. 

California believes that the actions discussed in the letter could occur under a timeline 

as follows:

EPA and NHTSA issue the [July 2011] Notice of Intent. 

EPA and NHTSA issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. 

California holds a hearing on a proposed rule consistent with the actions 

described above. 

EPA and NHTSA issue a Final Rule. 
Secretary LaHood and Administrator Jackson 

July 28, 2011 

Page 4 

California issues a Final Rule that revises its regulations. 

EPA, NHTSA, and California conduct a mid-term evaluation for the standards 

for MYs 2022-2025. 

Sincerely, 

Mary D. Nichols 

Chairman