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Bill Calls for EPA Report on State Emissions Regs.
The Senate omnibus spending measure contains language requiring the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to submit a report by early next year on the "practices and procedures" states use to develop separate emissions standards for road and non-road vehicles. Under federal law, California is the only state authorized to set its own vehicle emissions standards, and even then federal law reserves the right to regulate fuel economy for the federal government. Environmentalists fear the Bush administration and congressional Republicans will use the study to lay the groundwork for challenging California's attempts to force automakers to produce a certain percentage of "zero emissions" vehicles, as well as the state's attempt to force automakers to produce vehicles that emit less "greenhouse gas" (GHG) pollution. Green groups also are alarmed that the study could be used as a weapon to block states from setting tougher Clean Air Act New Source Review requirements and toxic air emissions.

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