The report stems from a 2003 dispute between Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Christopher S. Bond, R-Mo. Bond called for the study after he was unable to block California’s emissions limits on lawn mowers and other small engines. The council serves as an advisory arm of the congressionally chartered National Academies of Science.

Engine manufacturer Briggs and Stratton Corp. released a study in 2003 concluding that 22,000 jobs could be transferred overseas, including more than 5,000 from Bond’s home state of Missouri, if California’s standards were adopted.

Bond and Feinstein subsequently reached a compromise that allowed California’s small-engine standards to proceed while blocking other states from adopting them.

The report released Thursday said California has used its unique authority under the Clean Air Act as intended, serving as a “proving ground” for new smog-reducing technologies and providing an alternative to states seeking to address their own pollution problems faster than the federal standards would allow.

“California should continue its pioneering role in setting mobile-source emissions standards,” the report said.

Feinstein called the report “a positive affirmation of California’s role in reducing air emissions,” adding that it “provides strong vindication for efforts to protect the health of our state’s 37 million residents.”

Bond spokesman Rob Ostrander suggested that the fight is not over. “The issue of whether California should continue to have the power to issue separate standards was not the subject of the study,” he said. “Sen. Bond will continue to ensure that as California acts to clean up its own mess, that at a minimum, California’s actions do not hurt Missouri workers and families.”

An EPA safety study is analyzing the effects of using catalytic converters to reduce emissions from small engines. While Briggs and Stratton has opposed the regulations, other manufacturers, including Honda Motor Co., have backed stricter standards.

The council’s report did not address California’s recent move to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. Ten states have adopted California’s standards, although the automobile industry is challenging the regulations in court. The industry argues that California is effectively trying to regulate fuel efficiency, which falls under the federal government’s purview.

“This study looked at smog-forming pollutants,” said Charles Territo, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. “Our objection has been with California’s attempts to regulate fuel economy.”