| Title
NTWC's
Formal Comments
on the EPA's Small Engine Rule
January 17, 2002
The Honorable Christine Todd Whitman
C/O Margaret Borushko
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Vehicle and Fuels Emission Laboratory
2000 Traverwood
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
RE: Proposed Rule -- Control of Emissions from Nonroad Large Spark
Ignition Engines and Recreational Engines (Marine and Land-Based)
[Air Docket A-2000-01]
Dear Governor Whitman:
The undersigned organizations appreciate the opportunity to present
our formal comments on the proposal to control emissions from recreational
vehicles and engines and marine engines. We applaud the Agency for
beginning to address the serious air and noise pollution and public
health problems caused by snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles,
thereafter referred to as dirt bikes, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).
However, we believe the proposal, especially as it relates to reducing
emissions from all classes of recreational vehicles, noise pollution
and vehicle labeling, falls far short of the legal requirements
in the Clean Air Act.
The
Problem:
Snowmobiles, dirt bikes and ATVs are significant sources of air
pollution nationwide and particularly large sources on public lands
and in rural areas. The impacts of these machines in rural America
is especially significant in light of the EPA's determination that
"concentrations [of ozone] in rural areas have risen to levels previously
found only in cities." Moreover, the number of off-road vehicles
is very large. Based on various industry sources, there are at least
1.6 million snowmobiles, nearly 4 million ATVs and millions more
dirt bikes in operation in the United States today. And tens of
thousands more machines roll out of dealers' showrooms annually.
As the proposal explains, snowmobiles, dirt bikes and ATVs alone
account for approximately 10 and 3 percent of nationwide mobile
source emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, respectively.
The average two-stroke motor, which powers about 99 percent of snowmobiles,
more than 60 percent of all dirt bikes and one-fifth of all ATVs,
produces more smog-forming pollution in one day than the average
car does after traveling 100,000 miles. In addition, two-stroke
engines produce about 45 times more particulate matter than a diesel
engine.
On public lands, off-road vehicles can be the largest single source
of air pollution. For example, the National Park Service concluded
that snowmobiles produce up to 68 percent of Yellowstone National
Park's annual carbon monoxide pollution and as much as 90 percent
of its total hydrocarbon emissions. The gross amount of pollution
from these machines is even more evident when you consider that
cars outnumber snowmobiles by about 16 to 1 in Yellowstone. In certain
regions where dirt bike use is widespread - BLM lands in the California
desert for example - a single dirt bike generates eight times as
much carbon monoxide pollution as a car.
Growing sales, more widespread use and continued reliance across
the industry on out-dated two-stroke technology have combined to
produce a worsening air pollution problem. While virtually every
other mobile source - from diesel trucks to cars to personal watercraft
- has been, or soon will be, getting cleaner, snowmobiles, dirt
bikes and ATVs have not. More importantly in terms of this proposal,
these vehicles are a larger source of air pollution today than 10
years ago. Based on the Agency's analysis, while highway mobile
source carbon monoxide emissions dropped from 62 to 56 percent of
total carbon monoxide emissions between 1989 and 1998, nonroad emissions
increased from 17 to 22 percent of the total - an increase of nearly
30 percent. It is important to note that the reductions in the highway
category occurred while the number of vehicles and miles driven
increased significantly. According to the Bureau of Transportation
Statistics within the U.S. Department of Transportation, the total
number of highway vehicles increased from about 193.1 million in
1990 to approximately 215.5 million in 1998 while miles driven increased
from approximately 2.1 trillion to 2.6 trillion. These numbers demonstrate
that it possible to reduce pollution at the same time that the number
of vehicles and miles driven increase.
The adverse health effects associated with carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons,
particulates and the host of toxic chemicals common to pollution
from off-road vehicles are severe and well-documented, including
respiratory disease, cancer and premature death. Moreover, there
is a growing body of evidence documenting how riders, public employees
and others directly exposed to exhaust are particularly at risk.
According to the National Park Service, "[A]ir quality studies at
Yellowstone [National Park] have shown that the accumulation of
a large number of snowmobiles in a small area, such as entrance
stations and parking lots, can result in short-term exposures to
very high levels of CO, PM and HC (including toxic organics)."(National
Park Service, Air Quality Concerns Related to Snowmobile Usage
in National Parks, February 2000) The Park Service's research
found that employees working in West Yellowstone express entrance
booths had "double the PM exposure as those who worked in the regular
lanes." (ibid) The Agency's proposal also addresses how snowmobile
operation contributes to higher levels of exposure for riders. For
example, EPA's analysis estimate that riders and others who directly
breath snowmobile exhaust have benzene exposure levels "two to three
orders of magnitude greater than the 1996 national average benzene
concentrations."
Elements
of a Strong Final Rule:
In order to protect public health and the environment, a strong
final rule should:
- Produce a rapid and broad-based conversion from two-stroke
to four-stroke engines across all recreational vehicle
categories by setting strong performance standards and emission
reduction targets that reflect readily available and soon to be
available engine and pollution control technology;
- Require fine particle filters on any new two-stroke
engine in order to cut down on dangerous emissions. This should
only be an interim measure on remaining two-strokes - not a substitute
for a rapid transition to four-stroke engines across all recreational
vehicle classes;
- Include three-way catalytic converters on
all engines to gain the greatest pollution reductions achievable
at reasonable cost;
- Institute a multi-tiered labeling program, like
California's program for marine engines, that clearly distinguishes
recreational machines based on emissions so that consumers can
make informed choices among products;
- Reduce noise. EPA should use its authority to
require significant noise reductions because these machines are
often used on public lands, where many people value natural quiet
and solitude;
- Cover Mopeds, Mini-bikes, and Scooters. EPA should
include emissions standards for these vehicles, in addition to
the vehicles already covered; and
- Be Enforceable. EPA needs to ensure that engines,
once in use, continue to comply with the new standards.
The
Proposal Falls Short:
Based on these criteria, we believe the proposal, especially as
it relates to reducing emissions from all classes of recreational
vehicles, noise pollution and vehicle labeling, falls far short
of the legal requirements in the Clean Air Act. Although we recognize
that the EPA is not a land management agency, the undersigned organizations
state clearly for the record that decisions about the use of off-road
vehicles on public lands and waters must be based on a wide range
of factors, including, but not limited to, impacts on air and water
quality, other natural resources, wildlife, and public health and
safety.
Dirt
Bikes and ATVs:
On the positive side, we believe the Agency is moving in the right
direction with the standards proposed for dirt bikes and ATVs. However,
the standards would be less protective than ones that already apply
to dirt bikes and ATVs in California. In fact, if this proposal
were to become final as written, it would allow nearly twice as
much pollution than the levels approved by the California Air Resources
Board in 1997. We urge the EPA to harmonize final standards for
dirt bikes and ATVs by requiring advanced emission control equipment,
including catalytic converters, on both types of machines.
We understand that EPA has a concern that a small reduction in
dirt bike performance could encourage riders to purchase competition
bikes that will not include pollution control equipment. First and
foremost, it is completely unclear that a more protective standard
for dirt bikes than the one proposed would actually impact performance
in any discernable way. The proposal offers no evidence to support
this assertion. Moreover, there are two separate issues here: 1)
the most protective emission standards for dirt bikes and ATVs as
required by the Clean Air Act and 2) abuse of the very limited competition
exception in the Clean Air Act.
It is well known to the Agency and officials in states across
the country that many competition bikes are not being used exclusively,
or even nominally, for any form of competition. Instead, they are
being purchased for general recreational use and, in many cases,
equipped with headlights and other equipment required for over-the-road
use and then registered illegally. We recognize that EPA does not
have authority over the actions of state departments of motor vehicles.
However, the Agency does have a role to play in developing a strategy
to address abuse of the competition exception in the law. That strategy
should not be to propose emission standards below levels that can
be readily achieved with existing technology merely because it might
be complicated to address what appears to be a growing competition
bike loophole.
Furthermore, we are concerned that the agency's proposed approach
to identifying competition dirt bikes will allow this loophole to
continue to be exploited resulting in the sale of tens of thousands
of highly polluting motorcycles that should not be generally available
under the clear constraints of the Clean Air Act. As you know, Section
216 of the Act excludes any engine "used in a þ vehicle used
solely for competition" from the definition of "nonroad engine"
and excludes any vehicle "used solely for competition" from
the definition of "nonroad vehicle."(emphasis added) In order to
qualify for this limited exemption, a vehicle, such as a dirt bike,
must be used - not just sold - solely for competition. Under the
law, neither the vehicle nor the engine can be used for any noncompetitive
purpose. For example, a stock car raced solely on the NASCAR circuit,
but not driven occasionally on weekends through neighborhood streets,
would qualify for this exemption. However, a dirt bike that is used
in organized competition as well as for recreational pursuits should
not qualify.
As currently structured, the proposal does not appropriately apply
the competition exemption because dirt bikes with the characteristics
listed (66 Fed. Reg. at 51151) can be - and are routinely - used
for purposes other than competition. The proposal should be amended
to focus the definition of a competition dirt bike on how the vehicle
is used in order to conform with the narrow exemption in Section
216.
We are also concerned about permeation losses from ATV fuel tanks
and request that EPA address this problem in the final rule. These
losses result from the use of fuel tanks in which gasoline evaporates
through the skin of the tank itself in the case of plastic tanks,
or through apertures such as the filler valve.
Snowmobiles:
The proposed standards for snowmobiles fall far short of the mark.
By the Agency's admission, after the first set of standards are
in place in 2006, "[W]hile some advanced technologies, such as two-stroke
direct injection and four-stroke engines, would be found on some
models, many models would still be equipped with two-stroke engines
with relatively minor engine modifications resulting in minimum
emissions reductions, while some models may not even have any
emission controls."(emphasis added) Then the Agency proposes
a second phase for 2010, which it estimates will reduce snowmobile
emissions by as much as 50 percent below current baseline levels.
However, even this standard will not result in a large-scale transition
to four-stroke technology. The proposal acknowledges that "these
standards would be met through the application of direct injection
two-stroke technology and, to a much lesser extent, four-stroke
technology, to cover about half of overall production, with the
remaining models utilizing clean carburetion and electronic fuel
injection, along with associated engine modifications."(emphasis
added) Based on this assessment, it is clear that the overwhelming
majority of new snowmobiles produced after 2010 will continue to
be powered by some form of two-stroke engine. It defies explanation
that a World War II-era technology will continue to dominate this
industry more than a full decade into the 21st century. As discussed
in more detail below, we also believe the proposed standards are
legally deficient.
In testimony during EPA's public hearings on the proposal, the
International Association on Snowmobile Manufacturers (ISMA) strongly
opposed the 2010 standard. However, the Agency should be aware that
in the context of other decisions concerning snowmobile use on public
lands, the ISMA and its allies are sending a very different signal.
A December 2001 fundraising appeal from the BlueRibbon Coalition
(BRC) is merely one example. The BRC mailing (copy enclosed) includes
a comment letter concerning snowmobile use in Yellowstone National
Park. In advocating for continued snowmobile use in the Park, the
letter states that "[I] support using the proposed '2010' EPA emission
rule for snowmobiles to establish a reasonable emission standard
for snowmobiles in national parks, since it would provide for a
50% reduction in HC and CO, rather than having the Park Service
create their own rules outside the expertise of the EPA." The cover
letter from the BRC includes the following, "Please note, this
comment letter has the full support of American Council of Snowmobile
Associations, the BlueRibbon Coalition and the International Snowmobile
Manufacturers Association."(emphasis added) This double-talk
represents a pattern on the part of the industry. The Agency should
carefully consider the industry's inconsistency on this issue as
it develops the final rule.
We also strongly urge the Agency to reassess its conclusions about
the assumed benefits associated with advanced two-stroke designs,
such as direct injection. Additional research by the California
Air Resources Board indicates that particulate matter emissions
from direct injection two-strokes are very high. In fact, they are
far higher than similar emissions from diesel engines. This finding
alone should cause the EPA to reexamine its assumptions. The adverse
public health effects associated with exposure to particulates are
severe, including premature mortality and aggravation of respiratory
and cardiovascular disease. Moreover, particulates are a significant
contributor to visibility impairment nationwide.
The wide disparity between standards for dirt bikes and ATVs and
snowmobiles is difficult to understand. The vehicles use essentially
the same engine technology. Two of the four major snowmobile manufacturers
are already producing and marketing four-stroke machines. The technology
is not a notion in the head of a young engineer, it is rolling off
factory assembly lines today. In addition, in an industry where
all of the major snowmobile makers also produce ATVs, and in some
instances dirt bikes as well, it is impossible to understand why
companies can not benefit from advances in four-stroke technology
made in ATVs and dirt bikes. The Agency states in the proposal that
"four-stroke engines are so prevalent over the last 10 years in
[dirt bikes] and ATVs, manufacturers have developed high confidence
in four-stroke technology and its application." The snowmobile industry
has direct experience with four-stroke technology and advanced engineering
concepts that have allowed this technology to dominate the ATV category.
It is hard to believe that this extremely sophisticated knowledge
is unknown in the snowmobile "wings" of corporate headquarters and
engineering departments.
Noise:
We believe the Agency must use its clear statutory authority under
the Public Health and Welfare Act (42 USC 4901) to regulate noise
from these vehicles and recreational diesel boats. Noise from dirt
bikes, snowmobiles and ATVs is frequently in the range of between
81 and 111 decibels, equivalent to a busy street or a rock concert.
Although these vehicles shattered peaceful surroundings across the
country, the negative impacts can be most pronounced on public lands
and waters. The overwhelming majority of our National Parks and
Forests, areas under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management,
and other public lands are naturally quiet and free from the panoply
of sounds that dominate our cities and suburban landscapes. Off-road
vehicles are one of the single largest sources of noise pollution
on public lands. The roar of dirt bikes and ATVs reverberates in
the Red Rock Canyons of Utah, across the vast desert ecosystems
of the southwest and throughout most National Forests. The high-pitched
whine of snowmobiles is a constant presence in many areas of Yellowstone
and other National Parks each winter. A survey in Yellowstone determined
that snowmobiles could be heard 90% of the time in 8 of 13 most
popular sites in the Park. Even areas in which motorized use is
prohibited, chiefly wilderness and wilderness study areas, are adversely
affected by noisy machines that operate nearby or illegally within
these protected natural ecosystems. Coastal regions, lakes and rivers
can sound like highways choked with tractor trailer trucks due to
constant rumble of diesel engines in boats.
The need to proactively address noise pollution is even more important
in light of the fact that the proposal would not promote significant
conversion of the snowmobile fleet from two-stroke to four-stroke
technology. The eighty percent of Americans who visit their public
lands for nonmotorized recreation each year would at least enjoy
some noise reduction with an across-the-board move to quieter four-stroke
machines. If the Agency does not significantly strengthen the proposal
as outlined in these comments, it is imperative that it use its
clear legal authority - already applied to some types of motorcycles
- to reduce noise pollution from all recreational vehicles.
Labeling:
We are also disappointed that the proposal does not include the
consumer-friendly labeling system that our organizations and many
others have recommended. We believe a system similar to the one
California has developed for personal watercraft and certain marine
engines would be most useful to consumers. It utilizes easy-to-understand
language and symbols to differentiate between machines and engines
based on emissions levels. Although this proposal includes labeling
for recreational vehicles, it appears that it will be numbers-based
and may or may not include information about the voluntary emissions
levels; therefore, it would be less user-friendly than systems already
in place. In fact, without information about the voluntary emission
limits, consumers would have absolutely no context in which to evaluate
the numbers that might appear on a label.
In addition, an easy to use labeling system harnesses market forces
to encourage the production of cleaner machines. These forces are
working successfully today in California and should serve as a model
for this proposal.
The
Proposal Must Be Strengthened Significantly:
Legal Authority is Clear - We believe the EPA must significantly
strengthen the proposal especially in the areas identified above.
Contrary to what some in the off-road vehicle industry have stated
in commenting on the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking and
during public hearings, we believe the Agency's legal authority
to propose much more protective air pollution standards is unquestionable.
Section 213 of the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set air pollution
standards that will achieve the greatest degree of emission reduction
achievable with technology that will be available, giving appropriate
consideration to cost, noise, energy and safety factors. This action
is required by the Act if the Agency determines that emissions from
certain classes of mobile sources contribute to the failure of one
or more regions of the country to achieve attainment standards.
The Agency made this determination and clearly articulated the evidence
in the findings published on December 7, 2000.
In addition, EPA has clear legal authority to take steps to safeguard
pristine air quality in class 1 federal areas pursuant to Section
169(A) and (B) of the Clean Air Act. In Section 169(A), Congress
set the following national goal: "[p]revention of any future, and
the remedying of any existing, impairment of visibility in mandatory
class 1 Federal areas which impairment results from manmade air
pollution." As the proposal states, the Act and implementing regulations
require the Agency to protect visibility in "class 1 areas from
localized impacts as well as broader impacts associated with regional
haze." Based on the plain language of the law, the EPA has the authority
to regulate highly localized sources of pollution when they clearly
contribute to degradation of air quality on protected public lands.
In this proposal and other analysis, the EPA has concluded that
recreational vehicles degrade air quality and contribute to visibility
impairment. Other agencies, chiefly the National Park Service, have
also determined that air pollution is increasingly impairing visibility
on public lands nationwide.
The connection between recreational vehicles and visibility impairment
is clear and direct. Snowmobiles, dirt bikes and ATVs equipped with
two-stroke engines emit extremely high levels of hydrocarbons -
up to 250 times more during only 4 hours of operation when compared
to a car driven 100 miles. Hydrocarbon, as a major constituent of
organic carbon, is one of five major sources of fine particulate
matter which causes visibility impairment. In the proposal, EPA
has clearly documented how snowmobiles in particular contribute
to visibility impairment in a select number of National Parks. We
strongly believe that the impact of these machines on visibility
is much broader across public lands than this limited analysis demonstrates.
We believe that more protective standards for dirt bikes, ATVs
and snowmobiles fall well within the EPA's legal authority. First
of all, it is questionable if the proposed standard meets the legal
requirement in light of the fact that the targeted reductions are
not the greatest that could be achieved with technology available
today. For example, as stated above, two of the four snowmobile
makers are producing four-stroke machines for the coming model year.
Four-stroke engines are being installed in snowmobiles today, and
the reductions that can be achieved with this technology are dramatically
greater than the proposal is designed to achieve. Moving to a more
protective standard in and of itself would more reasonably approach
the legal requirement.
Four-stroke emissions data that is slowly emerging from the snowmobile
industry clearly demonstrates that manufacturers are currently capable
of reducing pollution much more dramatically than the EPA would
require even in 2010. According to Arctic Cat, the company's new
four-stroke snowmobile produces 6.32 g/kw-hr of HC and 68.2 g/kw-hr
of CO. This HC level is 1/12 as much as the proposal would allow
in 2010 while the CO level is 1/3 as high. There is no reason to
believe that the other major snowmobile producers will not achieve
similar reductions.
Second, the Agency would also stand on very firm ground when evaluating
stronger standards in light of the secondary issues EPA must consider
under Section 213, including cost, energy, noise and safety.
Cost-effectiveness -- Converting to four-stroke engines
will be cost-effective in terms of overall pollution reductions
and for consumers. The snowmobile industry itself has stated that
four-stroke machines are affordable. During a snowmobile event in
Utah in December 2001, Mark Reece, regional director for Arctic
Cat, stated: "They [four-stroke snowmobiles] are plenty fast for
touring, they keep the environment clean and they are affordable
as well."( Salt Lake Tribune, 12/9/01 - copy enclosed) Furthermore,
initial demand for four-stroke snowmobiles indicates that consumers
find them highly desirable. The Bangor Daily News recently
reported the following: "þ at Arctic Cat in Turner, salespeople
rounded up as many of Arctic Cat's cleaner, quieter snowmobiles
as they could be trading to other dealers - and they have sold nine
of the 11 they were able to get."("Snowmobile sales clean up, Four-stroke
engines popular," December 29, 2001 - copy enclosed) The article
continues: "'It's [movement to four-stroke technology] the next
step forward in snowmobiling. You could see it coming three to four
years ago' said Hale [Myron Hale of Country Sports in Caribou],
who was waiting for his first four-stroke snowmobile Thursday."
(ibid.)
The cost per ton of pollution reduction from all of these machines
is well below levels in other recently approved rules. In terms
of recreational vehicles, emission reductions are also extremely
cost-effective. For example, the proposal estimates that carbon
monoxide emissions from snowmobiles can be reduced for $50 per ton
in 2006. Moreover, after accounting for significant fuel savings,
the cost per ton of pollution reduction drops to zero in 2010.
The potential savings for consumers that comes with four-stroke
technology is perhaps best illustrated with what is happening today
with personal watercraft. In a recent article, WatercraftNews
magazine reviewed Yahama's new four-stroke personal watercraft.
(copy enclosed) In addition to commenting about the power, style
and all-around high performance of the machine, the magazine states:
"In a 100-hour test conducted by Yamaha, they've shown savings of
nearly $1,200 over a competitor's direct injection watercraft."(October
2001, p. 47) It adds that "Yamaha says it has substantially lower
operating costs compared to two-stroke direction injection engines."(ibid.)
Four-stroke snowmobiles could produce similar savings over the long-term.
Maine snowmobile dealer Arno Fichtner explained that the four-stroke
engines in the new Arctic Cat snowmobile are so durable "they could
outlast three snowmobile frames." ("New quieter snowmobile available
in Maine," Bangor Daily News, November 2, 2001 - copy enclosed)
This evidence confirms substantial savings associated with using
this technology in the off-road vehicle category.
Energy -- When considering energy, moving to a more protective
standard once again clearly complies with the law. The average four-stroke
engine is 35 percent more fuel efficient than the average two-stroke.
According to an article in the Bangor Daily News, "[I]n gas
mileage, four-strokes get between 30 and 35 miles per gallon, compared
with two-strokes, which get 10 to 15 mpg."("Snowmobile sales clean
up, Four-stroke engines popular," December 29, 2001) The Agency
estimates that total fuel consumption across all covered categories
will be reduced by 730 million gallons annually when the proposal
is fully phased-in. The total reduction would only be greater with
stronger emission standards that would produce large-scale conversion
of the snowmobile fleet to four-stroke technology.
Noise -- In terms of noise, as discussed above, encouraging
more widespread application of four-stroke technology across all
recreational vehicles would begin to reduce noise pollution. Although
this is clearly beneficial, we believe the Agency should take additional,
proactive steps to further reduce harmful and disruptive noise levels,
including from diesel recreational boats.
Safety -- The industry has already determined that it is
safe to produce and sell a wide range of vehicles with four-stroke
engines. ATVs and dirt bikes have long used this technology. Yamaha,
one of the leaders in personal watercraft development and sales,
is producing a new four-stroke jet ski that it believes is safe.
Finally, two of the four major snowmobile makers will sell four-stroke
machines this season.
We believe it is important to address the one safety issue the
Agency did raise concerning snowmobiles. The proposal states that
snowmobile weight is a safety issue because riders need to be able
to pull their machines out of deep snow. We urge the Agency to very
carefully examine this issue. Based on our analysis of 45 model
year 2001 snowmobiles - excluding models specifically designed for
children - the average snowmobile weighs 516.6 pounds. Although
some individuals might be capable of safely pulling a quarter-ton
machine from a snow drift, we question whether or not this is actually
a routine practice and whether or not adding weight with four-stroke
technology will really alter this situation. In light of these facts,
the safety issue linked to snowmobile weight demands detailed scrutiny.
Furthermore, setting performance and emission standards that would
result in more widespread use of advanced pollution control technology,
such as catalytic converters, in conjunction with four-stroke engines
would also favorably comply with these secondary issues. In testimony
presented during the Agency's public hearing in Washington, DC,
the Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association (MECA) stated:
"We strongly believe, however, that significant additional emission
reductions from these engines using catalyst-based systems are technologically
feasible, cost effective and safe. Quite simply, if EPA's rule is
finalized as proposed, an important opportunity to reduce emissions
and better protect public health will be lost."
We appreciate the opportunity to raise an interrelated issue concerning
an exemption from air standards for personal recreational vehicles
brought into the United States by foreign nationals. We are curious
why the Agency provides a one-year exemption from U.S. standards
for foreign nationals traveling with personal snowmobiles or other
equipment. U.S. Customs does not maintain a one-year emissions exemption
for foreign owned property. Instead, it allows unlimited temporal
use of such vehicles, and so we must assume that the rational grounds
for the Agency's proposed exemption would be if the Agency has determined
that the harm of prolonged use outweighs other actual benefits of
longer exemptions. This would appear to be a very reasonable argument,
and we assume this is the justification, and request that EPA confirm
that this would be the basis for such an exemption.
The undersigned organizations look forward to working with the
EPA in the months ahead to strengthen the proposal in order to provide
greater protection for air quality, human health and public lands
and waters.
Sincerely,
Scott Kovarovics
Director, Natural Trails and Waters Coalition
On behalf of:
Forest Watch, Montpelier, VT
Georgia Forestwatch, Ellijay, GA
Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center, Ashland, OR
Virginia Forestwatch, Wytheville, VA
Clinch Coalition, Coeburn, VA
Coalition for Jobs and the Environment, Abingdon, VA
Devil's Fork Trail Club, Dungannon, VA
Citizens of Lee Environmental Action Network, St. Charles, VA
Taking Responsibility for the Earth and Environment, Blacksburg,
VA
Patrick Environmental Awareness Group, Stuart, VA
Mountain Lion Foundation, Sacramento, CA
Alaska Center for the Environment, Anchorage, AK
Winter Wildlands Alliance, Boise, ID
Yosemite Area Audubon, Mariposa, CA
Western Colorado Congress, Grand Junction, CO
Issaquah Alps Trails Club, Issaquah, WA
Headwaters Environmental Center, Ashland, OR
Center for Sierra Nevada Conservation, Georgetown, CA
Butte Environmental Council, Chico, CA
Idaho Sporting Congress, Boise, ID
Wildlands CPR, Missoula, MT
American Lands, Washington, DC
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility
The Oregon Natural Desert Association, Bend, OR
Idaho Alpine Club, Idaho Falls, ID
Eastern Sierra Audubon Society, Bishop, CA
Endangered Habitats League, Los Angeles, CA
Ilana Levin
Snowlands Network, Livermore, CA
High Country Citizens' Alliance, Crested Butte, CO
Center for Biological Diversity, Tucson, AZ
Appalachia - Science in the Public Interest
Jumping Frog Research Institute, Angels Camp, CA
Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, NY
Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, DC
National Parks Conservation Association, Washington, DC
Quiet Use Coalition, Buena Vista, CO
Red Forests, Moab, UT
Sierra Nevada Alliance, South Lake Tahoe, CA
Washington Wilderness Coalition, Seattle, WA
Environmental Defense Center
Predator Conservation Alliance, Bozeman, MT
The Wilderness Society, Washington, DC
Range of Light Group, Sierra Club
Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation, Duluth, MN
The Fund for Animals, New York, NY
Schubert & Associates, Phoenix, AZ
****
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