Fellow Sierrans-
     Thousands of Iowans are suffering from asthma and other repiratory
problems. These problems are exacerbated by air pollution, one of the largest
sources of which is cars and 'light' trucks.  We have the chance to make sure
that new cars on the market are clean cars. The EPA is considering a proposal
similar to the one in California that would hold SUVs to the same pollution
standards as cars and would create incentives for alternative energy vehicles.
But, the proposal contains a loophole for monster vehicles like the Ford
"Valdez."  Industry lobbyists are trying to weaken it as well.
     We need letters to the Vice President to urge him to support/strengthen
the proposal.  The White House has told us that they especially need to hear
from environmental groups, doctors, scientists/academics, asthma victims,
childrens' advocates, etc.  So, this call goes out especially to you.  If you
are an "expert" of any kind on this issue, please send a letter on your letter
head to the VP, and please send a copy to me as well so I can keep track of
our efforts.  Follow this message is a sample letter.  Thank you!!!!

Amber Hard
U.S.PIRG
3520 Beaver Ave. Suite G
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-274-9984
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Date, 1999

Albert Gore, Jr.
Vice President of the United States
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. Vice President,

Air pollution is causing a public health crisis across the nation.  More than
117 million people are estimated to live in places where the air is unsafe to
breathe during much of the summer due to smog.  Last year alone there were
over 5200 violations of the federal health standard for smog pollution, which
send tens of thousands of Americans to emergency rooms each year.

Automobiles, including cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), are the
largest non-industrial source of air pollution that can often trigger asthma
attacks and affect the air we breathe:
· Roughly one-third of smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution comes from
automobiles.
· Current regulations allow sport utility vehicles, light trucks, and mini-
vans to emit as much as three times more smog-forming nitrogen oxide than is
emitted by cars. Light trucks and sport utility vehicles now make up over half
of the  new vehicles sold in the U.S.
· Diesel vehicles currently emit between ten and one hundred times finer
particle pollution than gasoline vehicles.  Moreover, the State of California
has listed diesel exhaust as a human carcinogen, estimating that 435 out of
every 1 million Californians are at risk of contracting cancer from exposure
to diesel smoke.

Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency submitted its proposed
standards for fighting automobile air pollution and proposed standards for
reducing sulfur in gasoline to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Based on preliminary reports of EPA's new clean car proposal, we/I commend the
EPA for a proposal that will result in dramatically cleaner automobiles.  With
automobiles emitting 30% of the smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution, these
"Tier 2" rules will have profound and lasting impacts on our health and
environment.

However, the final rule must go further to adequately protect public health.
In particular, we are/I am concerned about the following provisions:

· EPA gives the larger and dirtier SUVs an extra two years to comply with the
pollution standards.  While all other clean cars and SUVs must be phased-in
from 2004 to 2007, the larger SUVs have until 2009 to clean up. This special
treatment for more pollution vehicles should be eliminate. The largest and
dirtiest SUVs on the market, such as the new Ford Excursion, would not have to
clean up at all under EPA's proposal.

· EPA created a special category of slightly higher polluting vehicles to
allow diesel cars to continue to be sold.  Considering the toxic and
potentially carcinogenic nature of diesel exhaust, it is critical that special
rules encouraging the use of diesel vehicles be eliminated.

· EPA's clean car program does not decline further after 2007, so that
advances in pollution control technology made after 2007 will not be captured
by the program.  Adopting standards that remain constant throughout time
provides no incentive for automakers to develop new ways to reduce auto
pollution. Moreover, a forward-looking plan with a declining fleet average
will allow us to take advantage of advanced technologies are rapidly being
developed.  We recommend that EPA lower the emission limits further after
their proposed program is phased in.

The EPA proposal is a strong start to reducing automobile pollution.  The
decision made this year will affect the quality of the nation's air for
decades to come,  and we can not afford to risk the public health by adopting
a proposal that does not address the above-mentioned areas of concern.  We/I
urge you to support EPA's Tier 2 proposal with these critical improvements.

Sincerely,



cc:  U.S.PIRG
3520 Beaver Ave. Suite G.
Des Moines, IA 50310

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