Senator Feinstein Again Urges Senator Bond to Allow California to Clean Up its Air by
Regulating Small Engines
October 17, 2003

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today repeated her request to Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO) to remove language inserted into the VA/HUD spending bill that would prohibit California and other states from limiting pollution from all off-road engines less than 175 horsepower.

Senator Bond has previously indicated that he would consider dropping the language if California's new air quality regulations address his concerns and the concerns of the small engines industry. In a letter to Senator Bond, Senator Feinstein argues that the regulation language issued by the California Air Resources Board earlier this week does in fact meet these concerns and will not require engine redesign and prevent the possible loss of jobs at small-engine plants.

The text of Senator Feinstein's letter to Senator Bond follows: "I write once again to urge you to drop the small engine provision from the VA/HUD appropriations bill. The provision would cause major harm to my State of California and other states that might consider adopting regulations limiting pollution from small engines

In your last letter to me, you indicated that you might consider dropping the language if California's regulation language addressed your concerns. In the attached document, I think you will find that California has done so -- the regulations are flexible and provide three alternatives to reduce pollution from small engines. Furthermore, the regulations directly address the small engine industry's request to focus on evaporative emissions rather than exhaust. This will protect jobs and improve safety.

These regulations are a critical part of California's efforts to reduce air pollution, and if implemented, will lead to a significant reduction in emissions without the loss of jobs. I want to make sure that you know why this is such an important issue for California and other states with serious air pollution problems.

• In order to comply with national air quality requirements and protect the health of 35 million Californians, the State needs to reduce emissions from all available sources, including the engines affected by your provision.

• The affected engines are a significant source of pollution. Non-road engines smaller than 175 horsepower (excluding agriculture and construction equipment) emit as much pollution as 18.3 million cars in California alone. The attached regulation - affecting only engines smaller than 25 horsepower - would be the equivalent of removing 1.8 million cars from California roads by 2020.



• My state has the worst air quality in the nation, and this has been the worst year for smog in Southern California since 1997. Lake Arrowhead, California has exceeded the federal ozone limit on 44 days just since May 1.



• The pollution has serious consequences for Californians' health, contributing to asthma attacks and premature deaths. Nearly two million adults and nearly one million children suffer from more frequent asthma attacks as a result of California's air pollution.



• Air quality problems also have severe implications for California's economy. Failure to achieve compliance with national air quality standards threatens 2.5 billion dollars per year in transportation funds. California cities have some of the worst traffic congestion in the nation, and losing those transportation funds would only make the problem worse.
  

You need to know that the engines affected by your provision are a critical part of the State's strategy and that the State has negotiated in good faith with the small engine industry. The attached regulation represents a strong compromise between California and the industry, reflects Briggs and Stratton's input into the negotiations, and addresses the concerns outlined in your letter to the Air Resources Board. I again implore you to recognize the compromise and allow the States to continue to protect their citizens' health."

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