The U.S. Transportation Department believes that California’s plan to enact a program to cut global-warming emissions from vehicles is a state-level fuel-economy rule, Bloomberg reported.
DOT in a statement reiterated support for a single national fuel-economy standard. In May, California asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a waiver to begin a program in 2009 to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases linked to global warming.
“The EPA is currently considering a petition by the state of California for permission to impose its own fuel economy regulatory policy,” said DOT’s statement, released late Friday.
DOT provided the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, led by Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) with “internal documents” related to the waiver request, Bloomberg said.
California has authority to set pollution rules that exceed U.S. standards, while only federal transportation officials may regulate fuel economy.
The state wants to reduce automotive carbon dioxide emissions at least 18% by 2020, and has said its program is designed to cut a form of exhaust pollution, Bloomberg reported.
