[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 26, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 29399-29401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12757]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 26, 2010 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 29399]]
Memorandum of May 21, 2010
Improving Energy Security, American
Competitiveness and Job Creation, and Environmental
Protection Through a Transformation of Our Nation's
Fleet of Cars And Trucks
Memorandum for the Secretary of Transportation[,] the
Secretary of Energy[,] the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency[, and] the
Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
America has the opportunity to lead the world in the
development of a new generation of clean cars and
trucks through innovative technologies and
manufacturing that will spur economic growth and create
high-quality domestic jobs, enhance our energy
security, and improve our environment. We already have
made significant strides toward reducing greenhouse gas
pollution and enhancing fuel efficiency from motor
vehicles with the joint rulemaking issued by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April
1, 2010, which regulates these attributes of passenger
cars and light-duty trucks for model years 2012-2016.
In this memorandum, I request that additional
coordinated steps be taken to produce a new generation
of clean vehicles.
Section 1. Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks.
While the Federal Government and many States have now
created a harmonized framework for addressing the fuel
economy of and greenhouse gas emissions from cars and
light-duty trucks, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and
buses continue to be a major source of fossil fuel
consumption and greenhouse gas pollution. I therefore
request that the Administrators of the EPA and the
NHTSA immediately begin work on a joint rulemaking
under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) to
establish fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions
standards for commercial medium- and heavy-duty
vehicles beginning with model year 2014, with the aim
of issuing a final rule by July 30, 2011. As part of
this rule development process, I request that the
Administrators of the EPA and the NHTSA:
(a) Propose and take comment on strategies,
including those designed to increase the use of
existing technologies, to achieve substantial annual
progress in reducing transportation sector emissions
and fossil fuel consumption consistent with my
Administration's overall energy and climate security
goals. These strategies should consider whether
particular segments of the diverse heavy-duty vehicle
sector present special opportunities to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel economy. For
example, preliminary estimates indicate that large
tractor trailers, representing half of all greenhouse
gas emissions from this sector, can reduce greenhouse
gas emissions by as much as 20 percent and increase
their fuel efficiency by as much as 25 percent with the
use of existing technologies;
(b) Include fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas
emissions standards that take into account the market
structure of the trucking industry and the unique
demands of heavy-duty vehicle applications; seek
harmonization with applicable State standards; consider
the findings and recommendations published in the
National Academy of Science report on medium- and
heavy-duty truck regulation; strengthen the industry
and enhance job creation in the United States; and
[[Page 29400]]
(c) Seek input from all stakeholders, while
recognizing the continued leadership role of California
and other States.
Sec. 2. Passenger Cars and Light-Duty Trucks.
Building on the earlier joint rulemaking, and in order
to provide greater certainty and incentives for long-
term innovation by automobile and light-duty vehicle
manufacturers, I request that the Administrators of the
EPA and the NHTSA develop, through notice and comment
rulemaking, a coordinated national program under the
CAA and the EISA to improve fuel efficiency and to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions of passenger cars and
light-duty trucks of model years 2017-2025. The
national program should seek to produce joint Federal
standards that are harmonized with applicable State
standards, with the goal of ensuring that automobile
manufacturers will be able to build a single, light-
duty national fleet. The program should also seek to
achieve substantial annual progress in reducing
transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions and
fossil fuel consumption, consistent with my
Administration's overall energy and climate security
goals, through the increased domestic production and
use of existing, advanced, and emerging technologies,
and should strengthen the industry and enhance job
creation in the United States. As part of implementing
the national program, I request that the Administrators
of the EPA and the NHTSA:
(a) Work with the State of California to develop by
September 1, 2010, a technical assessment to inform the
rulemaking process, reflecting input from an array of
stakeholders on relevant factors, including viable
technologies, costs, benefits, lead time to develop and
deploy new and emerging technologies, incentives and
other flexibilities to encourage development and
deployment of new and emerging technologies, impacts on
jobs and the automotive manufacturing base in the
United States, and infrastructure for advanced vehicle
technologies; and
(b) Take all measures consistent with law to issue
by September 30, 2010, a Notice of Intent to Issue a
Proposed Rule that announces plans for setting
stringent fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions
standards for light-duty vehicles of model year 2017
and beyond, including plans for initiating joint
rulemaking and gathering any additional information
needed to support regulatory action. The Notice should
describe the key elements of the program that the EPA
and the NHTSA intend jointly to propose, under their
respective statutory authorities, including potential
standards that could be practicably implemented
nationally for the 2017-2025 model years and a schedule
for setting those standards as expeditiously as
possible, consistent with providing sufficient lead
time to vehicle manufacturers.
Sec. 3. Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels and Necessary
Infrastructure.
The success of our efforts to achieve enhanced energy
security and to protect the environment also depends
upon the development of infrastructure and promotion of
fuels, including biofuels, which will enable the
development and widespread deployment of advanced
technologies. Therefore, I further request that:
(a) The Administrator of the EPA review for
adequacy the current nongreenhouse gas emissions
regulations for new motor vehicles, new motor vehicle
engines, and motor vehicle fuels, including tailpipe
emissions standards for nitrogen oxides and air toxics,
and sulfur standards for gasoline. If the Administrator
of the EPA finds that new emissions regulations are
required, then I request that the Administrator of the
EPA promulgate such regulations as part of a
comprehensive approach toward regulating motor
vehicles; and
(b) The Secretary of Energy promote the deployment
of advanced technology vehicles by providing technical
assistance to cities preparing for deployment of
electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrids and all-
electric vehicles; and
(c) The Department of Energy work with stakeholders
on the development of voluntary standards to facilitate
the robust deployment of advanced vehicle
[[Page 29401]]
technologies and coordinate its efforts with the
Department of Transportation, the NHTSA, and the EPA.
Sec. 4. General Provisions.
(a) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent
with applicable law, including international trade
obligations, and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(b) This memorandum is not intended to, and does
not, create any right or benefit, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any
party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or
agents, or any other person.
(c) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed
to impair or otherwise affect:
(1) authority granted by law to a department, agency, or the head thereof;
or
(2) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
Sec. 5. Publication.
The Secretary of Transportation is hereby authorized
and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal
Register.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2010
[FR Doc. 2010-12757
Filed 5-25-10; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4910-62-P