We have had a request from the DC Sierra Club office to contact Senator
Grassley about this issue today.  Following this notice is some additional
information on the topic from Sierra Club and U.S.PIRG..

Thanks, Jane Clark

========================================================
 ACT TO CURB GLOBAL WARMING: CALL SENATOR GRASSLEY TODAY!!

Remind Senator Grassley that raising miles per gallon standards is the
biggest single step we can take to curb global warming!  Call the US
Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, ask for Senator Grassley's office,
and urge him to sign on today to the letter described below -- the
Feinstein/Bryan/Gorton letter to close the loophole that allows SUVs to
pollute more than cars!

 TAKE ACTION!  TELL YOUR SENATOR TO SUPPORT CLEANER CARS!

 US Senators Diane Feinstein, Richard Bryan, and Slade Gorton have crafted
a
 letter to President Clinton urging him to close the loophole in federal
miles
 per gallon standards that allows light trucks to pollute more than cars.
 Raising miles per gallon standards for cars and trucks is the biggest
single
 step we can take to curb global warming.  But since 1995, friends of the
auto
 and oil industries in Congress have attached stealth "riders" to
Department
 of Transportation's budget that have blocked the Administration from
 improving the standards.

 The Feinstein/Bryan/Gorton letter urges the President to work with
concerned
 members of Congress to close the loophole that allows SUVs to pollute more

 than cars.  This letter shows that Senators with a range of political
views
 all support the goals of curbing global warming and protecting our
 environment (this is one of the few environmental issues on which the
Sierra
 Club and Sen. Gorton see eye to eye!)

 So far 31 Senators have signed the letter including Senator Harkin.

=======================================================

 CLEANER CARS, SUVs AND GASOLINE: EPA NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU ON TIER 2!!!

We asked for standards that would get the sulfur out of our gasoline, hold
diesel vehicles to the same standard as gasoline vehicles, close the light
truck loophole and promote advanced technology vehicles.  Vice President
Gore and the EPA responded.

 These standards implement the new soot and smog standards we fought for
(and
 won!) in 1997.  The new auto pollution and gasoline standards would clean
up
 America's cars and heavily polluting light trucks beginning in 2004. The
plan
 would also clean our gasoline by establishing a national sulfur standard
of
 30 parts per million (ppm)--that's 300 hundred parts per million less than
 the current national average.

 Even though the proposed standards are strong, there are a few key ways
they
 could be even better. So, please send your comments to EPA, thank them for
 their commitment to cleaner air and ask them to address them to make the
rule
 the best it can be.  Here are some key points to make:

 *No breaks for the heaviest and dirtiest vehicles: The proposed standards
 allow the heaviest Sport Utility Vehicles and other light trucks between
 6,000 and 8,500 pounds to pollute more than cars until 2009 -- 2 extra
years.
  These super-polluters should be included in the same program as cars by
 2007, just like lighter SUVs.

 *Include heavier trucks used as passenger vehicles in these standards.
Tier 2
 regulations will only apply to vehicles 8,500 lbs and below. Yet, with
Ford's
 new Excursion on the way, we could see even more SUVs that won't have to
meet
 these new Tier 2 standards.  To prevent automakers from designing vehicles
 that miraculously "creep up" in weight to avoid the Tier 2 program, the
EPA
 should include all passenger vehicles--from the Honda Civic to Ford's new
 "Valdez" (Excursion)-- within the Tier 2 program.

 *Close the open door for dirtier diesels:
 The EPA is leaving the door open for diesel engines that are dirtier than
 gasoline engines.  Diesel exhaust has been identified as carcingenic.  The
 auto industry plans to use diesel engines in SUVs to get a fuel economy
 boost. We need standards that don't give any breaks to diesel when it
comes
 to air pollution.  EPA's proposed standards would require cleaner diesels
--
 but not clean enough.

 *Speed up the gasoline clean up:
 The proposal includes a phase-in for the low national sulfur standard that
 allows the oil industry to reduce average sulfur levels incrementally,
 meeting a required level each year until the national average of 30 ppm
goal
 must be reached in 2006. The incremental phase-in would allow a per gallon
 cap if 300 PPM in 2004, a level only slightly lower than the 330 ppm
current
 average, and one which would still foul the catalytic converters in cars
that
 fuel up with it leading to more pollution.
=========================================================
From U.S. PIRG:
Automobiles, including cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs), are
responsible for 30% of smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution, and 20% of
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air which also contribute to the
formation of smog.  In addition, automobiles are responsible for 20% of the

emissions of carbon dioxide, the major global warming gas.

U.S. PIRG's Clean Air Now Campaign is designed to convince the Clinton
Administration to dramatically cut auto pollution and increase the miles
per
gallon standards for cars and light trucks. Earlier this year, the
Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposal to clean up auto
pollution. In their final proposal, we want to make sure that the EPA:
 · Requires all new cars to be clean cars..
· Close the SUV loophole.
· End special treatment for diesel vehicles.
· Make low-sulfur fuel available nationwide.
· Increase the use of advanced technology vehicles.

The Clinton Administration also has the opportunity to tighten
miles-per-gallon standards for all automobiles. Despite more efficient
technologies and more than 3 million barrels of oil saved per day thanks to

the current CAFE (Corporate Average Fleet Efficiency) standards, miles per
gallon standards have been frozen at the same level since the 80's. We are
urging President Clinton and Vice President Gore to oppose any legislation
that would continue to freeze the miles-per-gallon standards.

The auto and oil industries are fighting to maintain the status quo. The
White House needs to stand up to these special interests and adopt tougher
standards. We are calling on the environmental community, public health
groups, religious organizations, academics, children's groups, and others
to
continue to help us demonstrate the broad public support for clean and fuel

efficient cars now.

Health problems are not the only consequence of automobile pollution.
Automobiles are also a major source of carbon dioxide-a leading greenhouse
gas. As concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increase, the
earth's temperature rises. Scientists predict results including: the spread

of tropical diseases, loss of coastal communities and habitats due to sea
level rise, devastating storms and temperature extremes.

The EPA has proposed a new rule to reduce auto pollution.  While the EPA's
Tier 2 proposal heads in the right direction, it must be strengthened
before
it is finalized by the end of the year.  Specifically, the rule should:

· Require all new cars to be clean cars.  EPA must adopt tough pollution
standards that require new cars to be at least 89% less polluting.
· Close the SUV loophole.  EPA must require new trucks, mini-vans and sport

utility vehicles to meet the same clean air standards as new cars at the
same
time.
· End special treatment for diesel vehicles.  EPA must remove special
exemptions for higher polluting diesel cars.
· Make low-sulfur fuel available nationwide. EPA must reduce the sulfur
content of gas across the nation.
· Increase the use of advanced technology vehicles.  EPA must ensure that
electric, hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles are made available nationwide.

We also urge you to veto any appropriations bill that includes provisions
that continue to freeze "CAFE" standards at their already outdated levels.
Current CAFE standards save Americans 3 million barrels of oil per day and
approximately $3000 per new car.  However, these standards have been
virtually stagnant for years despite significant technological advances.
CAFE
standards should:

· increase to a fleet average of 42 miles per gallon  by 2010 (including
cars, SUVs, mini-vans and other light trucks); and
· close the loophole that allows SUVs to pollute more than cars. Since SUVs

and light trucks are used primarily as passenger vehicles, they should meet

the same CAFE standards as cars by 2005.

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