January 9, 2013

President Barack H. Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:
As a diverse group of industry, environmental, labo r, and science-based organizations representing millions of Americans, we are writing to urge you t o finalize the Tier 3 vehicle emission and gasoline standards no later than December 31, 2013. Cleaner gasoline and vehicles provided by Tier 3 will help deliver cleaner air to all Americans and help state s meet their Clean Air Act implementation requirements.
Completing this rule will build on the strong found ation of clean car standards that nearly double fue l efficiency and cut dangerous tailpipe pollution in half by 2025, which you achieved in your first term

. Tailpipe and fuel standards to control smog-forming and particulate emissions from passenger vehicles are key to reducing the health impacts of poor air quality including asthma, respiratory problems, and premature death. Passenger vehicles remain the sec ond largest emitters of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – the primary pol lutants that form smog – in the U.S. These vehicles also emit more than half of all carbon mon oxide pollution and contribute to particulate matte r emissions. According to a National Association of C lean Air Agencies (NACAA) study, the anticipated Tier 3 program has the potential to cut gasoline ve hicle emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide

, and volatile organic compounds by 29, 38 and 26 per cent respectively. A study by Navigant Economics stated that these pollution reductions will have he alth benefits with an estimated value of $5-$6 bill ion annually by 2020 and $10-$11 billion annually by 20 30.

More than 1 in 3 Americans still live in areas wher e air pollutant levels exceed at least one of the h ealthbased National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS ). Tier 3 will help states reach their NAAQS attainment goals as required under the Clean Air Ac t because reducing sulfur in gasoline will result i n significant, immediate reductions of smog-forming p ollutants from the existing fleet of vehicles. As the Tier 2 program demonstrated, the greatest benefits are achieved when the standards for the vehicle and fuel are developed as a system.
Tier 3 will promote innovation in the automotive se ctor and create jobs in the refining industry. Navigant’s study estimated that implementation of t he Tier 3 standard will create more than 5,300 permanent jobs in the operation and maintenance of new refining equipment, as well as over 24,000 new jobs over a three year period for equipment install ation at the nation’s refineries.
The benefits of Tier 3 are significant, and we ther efore urge you to work to finalize this standard as soon as possible and before December 31, 2013.

Sincerely,

Ceres Clean Air Watch Conservation Law Foundation Corning IncorporatedLetter to President Obama

January 9, 2013 Page Two

Donaldson Company, Inc. Emissions Control Technology Association ENE (Environment Northeast) Energy Independence Now Environment America Environmental Defense Fund Environmental Entrepreneurs Hug Filtersystems International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, UAW Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association (MECA) Moms Clean Air Force Natural Resources Defense Council NGK Automotive Ceramics USA, Inc Safe Climate Campaign Sierra Club Tenneco, Inc. Union of Concerned Scientists