I for a long while have groused and complained :cuss: about the restrictions foisted on us by the oppressive smog Nazis (the CARB) here in California, and have envied the relative freedom to modify and enjoy your cars as you will those of you who live in states with less heavy-handed air pollution laws. But today, while searching the net for info on the penalties in California for changing or removal of the catalytic converter, I was saddened. It seems the Obama administration is considering agreeing to California's request for exemption from federal laws and allow even stricter smog regulations.
Here is an article from a recent issue of the New York Times on the issue.
WASHINGTON — President Obama will direct federal regulators on Monday to move swiftly on an application by California and 13 other states to set strict automobile emission and fuel efficiency standards, two administration officials said Sunday.
jkThe 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 Mr. Obama could take to quickly put his stamp on environmental policy.
Mr. Obama’s presidential memorandum will order the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the Bush administration’s past rejection of the California application. While it stops short of flatly ordering the Bush decision reversed, the agency’s regulators are now widely expected to do so after completing a formal review process.
Once they act, automobile manufacturers will quickly have to retool to begin producing and selling cars and trucks that get higher mileage than the national standard, and on a faster phase-in schedule. The auto companies have lobbied hard against the regulations and challenged them in court.
Here is the link to the compete article. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/us/politics/26calif.html
For all in California and other states that have applied for exemption from federal regulations to allow even more restrictive state smog regulations who voted for Obama who promised change, it looks like change is coming, along with some stifling changes you didn't anticipate.
Here is an article from a recent issue of the New York Times on the issue.
WASHINGTON — President Obama will direct federal regulators on Monday to move swiftly on an application by California and 13 other states to set strict automobile emission and fuel efficiency standards, two administration officials said Sunday.
jkThe 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 Mr. Obama could take to quickly put his stamp on environmental policy.
Mr. Obama’s presidential memorandum will order the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the Bush administration’s past rejection of the California application. While it stops short of flatly ordering the Bush decision reversed, the agency’s regulators are now widely expected to do so after completing a formal review process.
Once they act, automobile manufacturers will quickly have to retool to begin producing and selling cars and trucks that get higher mileage than the national standard, and on a faster phase-in schedule. The auto companies have lobbied hard against the regulations and challenged them in court.
Here is the link to the compete article. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/26/us/politics/26calif.html
For all in California and other states that have applied for exemption from federal regulations to allow even more restrictive state smog regulations who voted for Obama who promised change, it looks like change is coming, along with some stifling changes you didn't anticipate.