Sharp turn on EPA rules for strict car emissions

WASHINGTON — President Obama will direct federal regulators today to move swiftly on an application by California and 13 other states, including Washington, to set strict automobile emissions and fuel-efficiency standards, two administration officials said Sunday evening.

The directive makes good on an Obama campaign pledge and signifies a sharp reversal of Bush administration policy. Granting California and the other states the right to regulate tailpipe emissions would be one of the most emphatic actions Obama could take to quickly put his stamp on environmental policy.

Obama stopped short of ordering the agencies to reverse the Bush administration policy, but they are widely expected to do so. Once they act, manufacturers will have to retool quickly to begin producing and selling cars and trucks that get higher mileage, and on a faster phase-in schedule. The auto firms have lobbied against the regulations and challenged them in court.

"It is incredibly welcome news," said Jay Manning, director of the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Stu Clark, air-quality program manager for the state Department of Ecology, described the move as a big step forward. "You as a consumer, you can still go buy your whatever that you want to buy. It'll just be cleaner than it would have otherwise," said Clark. "I'm surprised it happened this fast. And pleased."

Beyond acting on the California law, officials said, Obama will announce he is moving forward with nationwide regulations requiring the auto industry to increase fuel-efficiency standards to comply with a 2007 law — rules the Bush administration decided at the last minute not to issue.

He also will order federal departments and agencies to find new ways to save energy and be more environmentally friendly. And he will highlight the elements in his economic plan intended to create new jobs around renewable energy.

But the centerpiece of today's anticipated announcement is Obama's directive to the Environmental Protection Agency to begin work immediately on granting California a waiver, under the Clean Air Act, which allows the state to set standards for automobile emissions stricter than the national rules.

The Bush administration denied the waiver in late 2007, saying that recently enacted federal mileage rules made the action unnecessary and that allowing states to set their own rules would result in an unenforceable patchwork of environmental law. The auto companies had advocated the denial, saying a would require them to produce two sets of vehicles.

The Bush administration's environmental-agency director, Stephen Johnson, echoed the automakers' claims in denying California's application, ignoring the near-unanimous advice of agency lawyers and scientists that the waiver be granted.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, a Republican, wrote to Obama last week asking him to swiftly reconsider Bush's decision. The head of California's Air Resources Board, Mary Nichols, also wrote to the new EPA director, Lisa Jackson, asking for a quick reversal.

The California law, originally meant to take effect for 2009 models, requires automakers to cut emissions by nearly a third by 2016, four years ahead of the federal timetable. The result would be an increase in fuel efficiency in the American car and light-truck fleet to roughly 35 miles per gallon from the current average of 27.

California was joined in its plea by 13 other states, including Washington and Oregon. Three other states have indicated they plan to adopt the California standard. Together, these states account for about half of the American market for cars and light trucks.

Seattle Times staff reporter Karen Gaudette contributed to this report.