Friday,
December 13, 2002 |
NHTSA 75-02
Contact: Rae Tyson
Tel. No.: (202) 366-9550
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces Proposal
to Improve Fuel Economy Standards For Model Year 2005-2007 Light Trucks
In the first proposed change to fuel economy standards
in many years, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced
that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will seek to increase
fuel economy standards for light trucks covering model years (MY) 2005 through
2007, saving approximately 2.5 billion gallons of gasoline and improving the
environment.
Through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), NHTSA
is proposing new corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for light
trucks. The new standards would be
21.0 mpg for MY 2005, 21.6 mpg for MY 2006, and 22.2 mpg for MY 2007.
The standard would apply to pickup trucks, vans, and sport utility
vehicles. A manufacturer that fails to meet the CAFE standards is subject to
civil penalties.
"The Bush administration is committed to improving
vehicle fuel economy while protecting passenger safety and American jobs,"
Secretary Mineta said.
Today's action, a key component of the President's
National Energy Policy, proposes an increase of 1.5 mpg (from 20.7 mpg to 22.2
mpg) during this three-year period more than doubles the increase in the
standard that occurred between MYs 1986 and 1996, when it increased from 20.0
mpg to 20.7 mpg. The standard
remained at 20.7 mpg for several years due to a Congressional freeze on CAFE
standards. At the President’s
request, Congress lifted the freeze in December 2001.
“The proposal to establish new fuel economy standards
for light trucks is just one component of the Administration's comprehensive
approach to improving vehicle fuel economy,” said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey
W. Runge, M.D.
Administrator Runge said today’s announcement builds
on the Administration’s efforts encouraging Americans to buy more
fuel-efficient vehicles in order to protect and preserve the environment. In
addition to he President’s proposed tax incentives for the purchase of hybrid
and fuel cell vehicles, the Administration is working to advance and accelerate
the development of even more fuel-efficient vehicles in the future by funding
and working with partners (research universities and the private sector) to
leverage resources for research and development of new vehicle and fuel
technologies, including the new fuel cell FreedomCAR initiative, hybrid
vehicles, and ultra-low sulfur fuels.
Under federal law, NHTSA must establish CAFE standards
for light trucks for each model year at least 18 months before it begins.
A final rule establishing the new fuel economy standards will be issued
by April of 2003.
The
complete NPRM is on NHTSA’s website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/rulings/
and was posted today at the Federal Register office.
Comments should be sent to the DOT Docket (NHTSA 02-11419) within 60 days
of the publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register.
Comments can be sent electronically to http://dms.dot.gov
or mailed to Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC, 20590.
Regardless of submission method, it is necessary to cite the docket
number.
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