C I T Y O F P H I L A D E L P H I A

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

February 19, 2014 

President Barack Obama 

The White House 

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

Washington, D.C. 20500 

Dear Mr. President: 

As the Mayor of Philadelphia, I write to urge you to direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to adopt the 

Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Standards. Last summer, I was one of seventeen mayors who cosponsored a resolution of strong support for the standards. Our resolution passed the Environment Committee 

unanimously and with bipartisan support; it was then adopted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. These critical 

public health protections will clean up harmful air pollution from the U.S. vehicle fleet and are urgently needed.

Roughly half of the United States population is exposed to air pollution standards that fail to meet national air 

quality standards. Motor vehicles are significant contributor to ozone and particle pollution, which can trigger 

asthma attacks, cause complications for those with lung diseases, contribute to heart attacks, cancer, and can even 

lead to early death. Tailpipe pollution poses a serious threat to children, older adults and those already suffering 

from chronic diseases. Up to 45 percent of the urban North American population live, work or go to school near 

major roadways where they are exposed to tailpipe pollution.

Updating tailpipe emissions standards and lowering the sulfur level in gasoline will result in significant reductions 

in pollutants that form ozone and particle pollution. The new standards will save thousands of lives and prevent 

thousands of asthma attacks, hospital admissions, and millions of lost school and work days each year. The public 

health benefits from cleaner gasoline can be achieved for a penny per gallon of gasoline. This is why a broad and 

diverse coalition, ranging from domestic and foreign automakers and emissions control manufacturers to public 

health, labor, consumer, environmental and social justice groups, supports the standards.

The citizens of Philadelphia – and communities across the country - have the right to breathe clean and healthy 

air. The new standards are especially important to our children, minority, and low income populations who are 

impacted by asthma and other debilitating health conditions. I urge you to direct EPA to adopt the Tier 3 Motor 

Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Standards by February 28, 2014.

Sincerely,

Mayor Michael A. Nutter
C I T Y O F P H I L A D E L P H I A

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

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Attachment: U.S. Conference of Mayors 2013 Tier 3 Resolution (as adopted)

CC: Gina McCarthy, Administrator, U.S. EPA

Janet McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, U.S. EPA

Christopher Grundler, Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, U.S. EPA 

Howard Shelanski, Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB

Nancy Sutley, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality

Daniel Utech, Special Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change
 94 

 IN SUPPORT OF EPA’S TIER 3 CLEANER GASOLINE AND VEHICLES 

WHEREAS, mayors recognize that half of the United States population is exposed to 

air pollution levels that fail to meet national ambient air quality standards; and 

WHEREAS, two pollutants, ground level ozone and particulate matter pollution, can 

trigger asthma attacks, cause complications for those with other lung diseases, 

contribute to heart attacks, cancer and pre-term births and result in premature deaths; 

and 

WHEREAS, motor vehicles are a significant contributor to both ozone and 

particulate matter; and 

WHEREAS, tailpipe pollution poses a particular threat to vulnerable populations 

such as children, older adults, those already suffering from existing diseases such as 

asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and diabetes; 

and 

WHEREAS, near-roadway exposure to traffic pollution is more widespread than 

previously thought with up to 45 percent of the urban North American population 

living, going to work or school within 300 to 500 meters of a major roadway; and 

WHEREAS, United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) analysis 

projects that by 2030 the Cleaner Gasoline and Vehicles standard will prevent up to 

2,400 premature deaths, 3,200 hospital admissions and asthma-related emergency 

room visits, 22,000 asthma exacerbations and 1.8 million lost school days and work 

days each year; and 

WHEREAS, these public health benefits can be achieved for about a penny per 

gallon of gasoline, and for about $130 for new, cleaner vehicles; and 

WHEREAS, updates to current tailpipe emissions standards and lowering the sulfur 

level in gasoline to 10 parts per million will result in significant reductions in 

emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds 

emissions that contribute to the formation of ozone and particulate matter pollution; 

and 

WHEREAS, domestic and international auto manufactures have testified before the 

EPA that the standards are achievable with readily available technology; and 

WHEREAS, domestic refineries are already producing 10 ppm sulfur for some 

markets; and 

WHEREAS, the cleaner gasoline standard will immediately reduce emissions from 

vehicles currently on the road by ensuring the emissions control technologies on these 

vehicles function at the highest efficiency; and 
 95 

WHEREAS, automakers, emissions control manufacturers, labor groups, consumer 

groups, public health groups, environmental groups and social justice groups support 

Cleaner Gasoline and Vehicle Standards because of significant benefits to industry, 

public health and the environment; and 

WHEREAS, the benefits are widely distributed and are especially important to 

minority and low income populations who are disproportionately impacted by asthma 

and other debilitating health conditions; and 

WHEREAS, clean, healthy air is a fundamental American right, 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors 

strongly supports the EPA’s proposed Tier 3 Cleaner Gasoline and Vehicle Standards 

and urges that the standards be signed final before December 31, 2013. 

Projected Cost: Unknown