## 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

Ti er 3 Motor Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Standards . Last summer, I was one of seventeen mayors who co

sponsored a resolution of strong support for the standards. Our resolution passed the Environment Committee unanimously and w ith 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 pop ulation 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.

U pdating 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 gas oline. 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 Philade lphia

– and communities across the count r y

- 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 dire ct 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 (2/2)

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

Na ncy Sutley, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Daniel Utech, Special Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change94 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 na tional ambient air quality standards; and

WHEREAS , two pollutants, ground level ozone and particulate matter pollution, can trigger asthma attacks, cause complicati ons for those with other lung diseases, contribute to heart attacks, cancer and pre-te rm births and result in premature deaths;

and

WHEREAS , motor vehicles are a significan t contributor to both ozone and particulate matter; and

WHEREAS , tailpipe pollution poses a particul ar threat to vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, those alrea dy suffering from existing diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseas e, 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 Clean er Gasoline and Vehicles st andard will prevent up to 2,400 premature deaths, 3,200 hospital admi ssions and asthma-related emergency room visits, 22,000 asthma exacerbations a nd 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 $13 0 for new, cleaner vehicles; and

WHEREAS , updates to current tailpipe emission s standards and lowering the sulfur level in gasoline to 10 parts per million w ill 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 ma nufactures have testified before the

EPA that the standards are achievable with readily availa ble 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 th e emissions control technologies on these

vehicles function at the highest efficiency; and95 WHEREAS , automakers, emissions control manufacturers, labor groups, consumer groups, public health groups, environmental groups and social justice groups support

Cleaner Gasoline and Vehicle Standards becau se 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 ar e disproportionately impacted by asthma and other debilitating he alth conditions; and

WHEREAS , clean, healthy air is a f undamental 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