BUSH URGED TO BACK RULES FOR LESS DIESEL POLLUTION.Byline: Bill Hillburg Washington Bureau WASHINGTON - A coalition of environmental, trucking industry and health groups on Tuesday sent a letter to President Bush, urging him to enforce rules for diesel engines and Mexico trade that could be crucial to Southern California's battle against smog. Bush has ordered a review of diesel fuel rules enacted in December by the Clinton administration Noun 1. Clinton administration - the executive under President Clinton executive - persons who administer the law and the Environmental Protection Aency. The rules, opposed by many oil refiners call for cutting emissions by 95 percent and lowering the sulfur content of diesel fuel by 97 percent by 2006. Cathy Milbourn, an EPA EPA eicosapentaenoic acid. EPA abbr. eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, n.pr See acid, eicosapentaenoic. EPA, n. spokeswoman confirmed that the diesel rules are under review but said no decision has been made on enforcement. She said she had no knowledge of reports that the administration might also ease current pollution rules for Mexican trucks entering the United States. A 1999 study by the South Coast Air Quality Management District The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), formed in 1976, is the air pollution agency responsible mainly for regulating stationary sources of air pollution for most of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside County, and all of Orange county. found that the presence of large amounts of airborne diesel soot, a carcinogen carcinogen: see cancer. carcinogen Agent that can cause cancer. Exposure to one or more carcinogens, including certain chemicals, radiation, and certain viruses, can initiate cancer under conditions not completely understood. , nearly triples the risk of contracting cancer among residents of Southern California. The new national diesel rules mirror regulations already adopted by the California Air Resources Board California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the "clean air agency" of the state of California in the United States. Established originally in 1967, it is a part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, an organization which reports directly to the California . ``These rules are very important to our effort for cleaner air,'' said Richard Varenchik, spokesman for the Air Resources Board. ``But, whatever happens nationally, we will be implementing new diesel fuel rules in California.'' Varenchik said that state would also oppose any move to relax restrictions on trucks entering California from Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), accord establishing a free-trade zone in North America; it was signed in 1992 by Canada, Mexico, and the United States and took effect on Jan. 1, 1994. . Many Mexican vehicles exceed both current and future U.S. and state pollution limits. Under existing NAFTA NAFTA in full North American Free Trade Agreement Trade pact signed by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico in 1992, which took effect in 1994. Inspired by the success of the European Community in reducing trade barriers among its members, NAFTA created the world's regulations, such trucks can be banned from entering California by state officials. ``This diesel rule is good for health and good for business as well,'' said Frank O'Donnell, executive director of the Clean Air Trust, a Washington-based watchdog group. ``These new EPA rules make sense for us,'' said Stephanie Williams, lobbyist for the California Trucking Association. ``Burning cleaner diesel fuel, combined with the new vehicle smog controls, will increase fuel mileage for truckers.'' |
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