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2005 SESSION

051622796
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 283
Offered January 12, 2005
Prefiled January 3, 2005
Requesting the Department of Environmental Quality to study the costs and benefits of adopting air pollution standards for automobiles in Northern Virginia. Report.
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Patron-- Puller
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park are classified as moderate for the eight-hour ozone nonattainment area ; and

WHEREAS, enhanced vehicle emissions testing in Northern Virginia began in April 1998 and continues today as part of the Northern Virginia Air Quality Attainment Plan; and

WHEREAS, there are an estimated 1.4 million vehicles registered in the Northern Virginia area; and

WHEREAS, reformulated gasoline is being used in Northern Virginia to assist in reducing the impact motor vehicles have on air quality; and

WHEREAS, air deposition is responsible for nearly 25 percent of the nutrient loading in the Chesapeake; and

WHEREAS, motor vehicles in Northern Virginia are estimated to have a significant impact on air quality by emitting approximately 41 tons of volatile organic carbon and 91 tons of oxides of nitrogen each during the 2005 ozone season; and

WHEREAS, it is important for Virginia to recognize that motor vehicle emissions are a major source of air pollution and to consider various options for reducing emissions from this source; and

WHEREAS, a number of states, including Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York have addressed this issue by using California's air pollution standards for automobiles as a model for reducing motor vehicle emissions; and

WHEREAS, a new 1965 car produced about a ton of smog-forming hydrocarbons during 100,000 miles of driving and California's low-emissions vehicle standard have cut that to around 50 pounds for the average 1998 car; and

WHEREAS, when California's Low-Emission Vehicle Regulations are fully implemented in 2010, it is estimated that smog-forming emissions will be reduced by 155 tons per day statewide; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Environmental Quality be requested to study the costs and benefits of adopting air pollution standards for automobiles in Northern Virginia.

In conducting its study, the Department of Environmental Quality shall examine the experience of other states that have adopted improved emission reduction standards for automobiles as a strategy to improve air quality.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Environmental Quality for this study, upon request.

The Department of Environmental Quality shall complete its meetings by November 30, 2005, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2006 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.