LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday urged President Barack Obama to reconsider California's waiver request for cleaner cars.
In a letter to Obama, Schwarzenegger requested that the president direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to act promptly and favorably in reconsidering California's request for a Clean Air Act waiver so the state can reduce global warming pollution from passenger vehicles.
While hailing Obama's taking office as an indication of historic change in administrations and in national policies, the governor said one of these areas of change "must be our nation's response to global climate change."
For four years, California and a growing number of farsighted states have sought to enforce a common-sense policy to reduce global-warming pollution from passenger vehicles, which are the source of 20 percent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, Schwarzenegger said in the letter.
"Regulation will not only reduce these emissions, but will also save drivers money and reduce our nation's dependence on imported oil," the governor said.
Last March, the EPA denied California's request for the Clean Air Act waiver necessary to enforce stricter emissions regulation, saying only the federal government had the right to set such rules.
Calling the EPA's move "a fundamentally flawed decision," Schwarzenegger told Obama that the California Air Resources Board has written to EPA Administrator-designee Lisa Jackson to request that she immediately reconsider the waiver based on clear legal standards.
"Your administration has a unique opportunity to both support the pioneering leadership of these states and move America toward global leadership on addressing climate change," the governor said.
"I ask that you direct the U.S. EPA to act promptly and favorably on California's reconsideration request so that we may continue the critical work of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on global climate change."
In a letter to Obama, Schwarzenegger requested that the president direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to act promptly and favorably in reconsidering California's request for a Clean Air Act waiver so the state can reduce global warming pollution from passenger vehicles.
While hailing Obama's taking office as an indication of historic change in administrations and in national policies, the governor said one of these areas of change "must be our nation's response to global climate change."
For four years, California and a growing number of farsighted states have sought to enforce a common-sense policy to reduce global-warming pollution from passenger vehicles, which are the source of 20 percent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, Schwarzenegger said in the letter.
"Regulation will not only reduce these emissions, but will also save drivers money and reduce our nation's dependence on imported oil," the governor said.
Last March, the EPA denied California's request for the Clean Air Act waiver necessary to enforce stricter emissions regulation, saying only the federal government had the right to set such rules.
Calling the EPA's move "a fundamentally flawed decision," Schwarzenegger told Obama that the California Air Resources Board has written to EPA Administrator-designee Lisa Jackson to request that she immediately reconsider the waiver based on clear legal standards.
"Your administration has a unique opportunity to both support the pioneering leadership of these states and move America toward global leadership on addressing climate change," the governor said.
"I ask that you direct the U.S. EPA to act promptly and favorably on California's reconsideration request so that we may continue the critical work of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on global climate change."
