Blumenthal, Murphy & Booker Urge White House to Prioritize Stronger Emission Standards for Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines & Vehicles

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter to President Joe Biden to urge his administration to prioritize more stringent nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission standards for heavy-duty diesel engines and vehicles. 

“Air quality research from the Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study, of which our state air agencies are participants, clearly shows the large density of NOx emissions occurring in the New York City region, much of it from vehicle traffic. Even a relatively small amount of NOx pollution over Long Island Sound generates high ozone levels well in excess of health standards that affect coastal and inland areas downwind. In recognition of this efficient production, we will need much deeper reductions in NOx pollution to achieve clean air. California has already shown that a 90% increase in stringency beyond current national diesel engine emission standards is technologically feasible. For the health of citizens in our region, it is not just feasible, it is necessary,” wrote the senators.

On August 5, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen NOx emission standards for heavy-duty diesel engines and vehicles across the nation. The President’s Executive Order did not give a specific target to EPA for the NOx reduction, however, the California Air Resources Board approved adopting new NOx pollution standards for diesel trucks that are 90% more stringent than current federal limits, which have not changed in over 20 years. Connecticut has the worst ground-level ozone pollution problem on the East Coast. NOx is the key precursor to the formation of that ozone. Connecticut is severely challenged in meeting ozone health standards without tougher national diesel engine limits equivalent to California’s.

“The New York City metropolitan area failed to meet the 2008 ozone standard on time and will be reclassified by EPA as “severe” nonattainment with respect to the 2008 ozone standards this year. EPA’s action will trigger a planning process that will require Connecticut, New York and New Jersey to adopt additional, economically inefficient, control strategies on many stationary sources instead of focusing on air pollution from heavy duty diesels, which are beyond their jurisdiction,” added the senators.

A full copy of the letter is below:

President Joe Biden

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden:

We are writing to express our appreciation for your Executive Order of August 5, 2021 directing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen emission standards for nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted by on-road diesel trucks across the nation. NOx is a potent precursor to the formation of ground-level ozone pollution in the New York City metropolitan region, affecting the health and well-being of over 20 million people living in the tri-state metro area of Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. Diesel trucks are major contributors to NOx emissions across this region.

The California Air Resources Board approved adopting new NOx pollution standards for diesel trucks that are 90% more stringent than current federal limits, which have not changed in over 20 years. The need for cleaner trucks, however, is not limited to California. According to the Ozone Transport Commission, of which our states are members, on-road trucks in the mid-Atlantic and northeastern states emit 20% of the region’s total NOx pollution. Because trucks traveling across our states can be registered elsewhere, we need equivalent strong standards applied nationally to help address our ozone problem.

The EPA has recognized the health harms caused by ozone pollution, and has strengthened the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for ozone over the years, most recently in 2008 and then again in 2015. The New York City metropolitan area failed to meet the 2008 ozone standard on time and will be reclassified by EPA as “severe” nonattainment with respect to the 2008 ozone standards this year. EPA’s action will trigger a planning process that will require Connecticut, New York and New Jersey to adopt additional, economically inefficient, control strategies on many stationary sources instead of focusing on air pollution from heavy duty diesels, which are beyond their jurisdiction.  Our predicament is further compounded by the effort we know is needed to meet the more protective 2015 ozone standards.

While we have made great strides in reducing ozone pollution across the eastern United States from requiring cleaner cars on our roads, reducing pollution from many coal-fired power plants, and implementing other clean air measures, our progress has stalled. Air monitoring data in the New York City area indicate that the previously declining trend in the highest concentrations of harmful ozone pollution has flattened in recent years.

Air quality research from the Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study, of which our state air agencies are participants, clearly shows the large density of NOx emissions occurring in the New York City region, much of it from vehicle traffic. Even a relatively small amount of NOx pollution over Long Island Sound generates high ozone levels well in excess of health standards that affect coastal and inland areas downwind. In recognition of this efficient production, we will need much deeper reductions in NOx pollution to achieve clean air. California has already shown that a 90% increase in stringency beyond current national diesel engine emission standards is technologically feasible. For the health of citizens in our region, it is not just feasible, it is necessary.

Furthermore, attaining compliance with the ozone NAAQs will require EPA to adopt an “all of the above” suite of strategies that includes adoption of a cleaner diesel trucks rule now, a complete remedy to address the impacts of interstate air pollution transport, and EPA’s continued focus on zero-emission cars and trucks that will eliminate gasoline and diesel exhaust emissions once and for all. Transportation electrification not only addresses our long-term ozone problem, but is also a critical component to eliminating the disproportionate burden motor vehicle exhaust and particulate matter are placing upon our environmental justice and economically disadvantaged communities, and is a fundamental component in mitigating the on-going harms of climate change.

We thank you for your attention to our concerns, and look forward to working with your administration in proactively addressing this national problem.

Sincerely,

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