[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 26, 2010)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 29399-29401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12757]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 101 / Wednesday, May 26, 2010 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 29399]]


                Memorandum of May 21, 2010

                
Improving Energy Security, American 
                Competitiveness and Job Creation, and Environmental 
                Protection Through a Transformation of Our Nation's 
                Fleet of Cars And Trucks

                Memorandum for the Secretary of Transportation[,] the 
                Secretary of Energy[,] the Administrator of the 
                Environmental Protection Agency[, and] the 
                Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety 
                Administration

                America has the opportunity to lead the world in the 
                development of a new generation of clean cars and 
                trucks through innovative technologies and 
                manufacturing that will spur economic growth and create 
                high-quality domestic jobs, enhance our energy 
                security, and improve our environment. We already have 
                made significant strides toward reducing greenhouse gas 
                pollution and enhancing fuel efficiency from motor 
                vehicles with the joint rulemaking issued by the 
                National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
                and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 
                1, 2010, which regulates these attributes of passenger 
                cars and light-duty trucks for model years 2012-2016. 
                In this memorandum, I request that additional 
                coordinated steps be taken to produce a new generation 
                of clean vehicles.

                Section 1. Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks. 

                While the Federal Government and many States have now 
                created a harmonized framework for addressing the fuel 
                economy of and greenhouse gas emissions from cars and 
                light-duty trucks, medium- and heavy-duty trucks and 
                buses continue to be a major source of fossil fuel 
                consumption and greenhouse gas pollution. I therefore 
                request that the Administrators of the EPA and the 
                NHTSA immediately begin work on a joint rulemaking 
                under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Energy 
                Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) to 
                establish fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions 
                standards for commercial medium- and heavy-duty 
                vehicles beginning with model year 2014, with the aim 
                of issuing a final rule by July 30, 2011. As part of 
                this rule development process, I request that the 
                Administrators of the EPA and the NHTSA:

                    (a) Propose and take comment on strategies, 
                including those designed to increase the use of 
                existing technologies, to achieve substantial annual 
                progress in reducing transportation sector emissions 
                and fossil fuel consumption consistent with my 
                Administration's overall energy and climate security 
                goals. These strategies should consider whether 
                particular segments of the diverse heavy-duty vehicle 
                sector present special opportunities to reduce 
                greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel economy. For 
                example, preliminary estimates indicate that large 
                tractor trailers, representing half of all greenhouse 
                gas emissions from this sector, can reduce greenhouse 
                gas emissions by as much as 20 percent and increase 
                their fuel efficiency by as much as 25 percent with the 
                use of existing technologies;
                    (b) Include fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas 
                emissions standards that take into account the market 
                structure of the trucking industry and the unique 
                demands of heavy-duty vehicle applications; seek 
                harmonization with applicable State standards; consider 
                the findings and recommendations published in the 
                National Academy of Science report on medium- and 
                heavy-duty truck regulation; strengthen the industry 
                and enhance job creation in the United States; and

[[Page 29400]]

                    (c) Seek input from all stakeholders, while 
                recognizing the continued leadership role of California 
                and other States.

                Sec. 2. Passenger Cars and Light-Duty Trucks.

                Building on the earlier joint rulemaking, and in order 
                to provide greater certainty and incentives for long-
                term innovation by automobile and light-duty vehicle 
                manufacturers, I request that the Administrators of the 
                EPA and the NHTSA develop, through notice and comment 
                rulemaking, a coordinated national program under the 
                CAA and the EISA to improve fuel efficiency and to 
                reduce greenhouse gas emissions of passenger cars and 
                light-duty trucks of model years 2017-2025. The 
                national program should seek to produce joint Federal 
                standards that are harmonized with applicable State 
                standards, with the goal of ensuring that automobile 
                manufacturers will be able to build a single, light-
                duty national fleet. The program should also seek to 
                achieve substantial annual progress in reducing 
                transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions and 
                fossil fuel consumption, consistent with my 
                Administration's overall energy and climate security 
                goals, through the increased domestic production and 
                use of existing, advanced, and emerging technologies, 
                and should strengthen the industry and enhance job 
                creation in the United States. As part of implementing 
                the national program, I request that the Administrators 
                of the EPA and the NHTSA:

                    (a) Work with the State of California to develop by 
                September 1, 2010, a technical assessment to inform the 
                rulemaking process, reflecting input from an array of 
                stakeholders on relevant factors, including viable 
                technologies, costs, benefits, lead time to develop and 
                deploy new and emerging technologies, incentives and 
                other flexibilities to encourage development and 
                deployment of new and emerging technologies, impacts on 
                jobs and the automotive manufacturing base in the 
                United States, and infrastructure for advanced vehicle 
                technologies; and
                    (b) Take all measures consistent with law to issue 
                by September 30, 2010, a Notice of Intent to Issue a 
                Proposed Rule that announces plans for setting 
                stringent fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions 
                standards for light-duty vehicles of model year 2017 
                and beyond, including plans for initiating joint 
                rulemaking and gathering any additional information 
                needed to support regulatory action. The Notice should 
                describe the key elements of the program that the EPA 
                and the NHTSA intend jointly to propose, under their 
                respective statutory authorities, including potential 
                standards that could be practicably implemented 
                nationally for the 2017-2025 model years and a schedule 
                for setting those standards as expeditiously as 
                possible, consistent with providing sufficient lead 
                time to vehicle manufacturers.

                Sec. 3. Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels and Necessary 
                Infrastructure.

                The success of our efforts to achieve enhanced energy 
                security and to protect the environment also depends 
                upon the development of infrastructure and promotion of 
                fuels, including biofuels, which will enable the 
                development and widespread deployment of advanced 
                technologies. Therefore, I further request that:

                    (a) The Administrator of the EPA review for 
                adequacy the current nongreenhouse gas emissions 
                regulations for new motor vehicles, new motor vehicle 
                engines, and motor vehicle fuels, including tailpipe 
                emissions standards for nitrogen oxides and air toxics, 
                and sulfur standards for gasoline. If the Administrator 
                of the EPA finds that new emissions regulations are 
                required, then I request that the Administrator of the 
                EPA promulgate such regulations as part of a 
                comprehensive approach toward regulating motor 
                vehicles; and
                    (b) The Secretary of Energy promote the deployment 
                of advanced technology vehicles by providing technical 
                assistance to cities preparing for deployment of 
                electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrids and all-
                electric vehicles; and
                    (c) The Department of Energy work with stakeholders 
                on the development of voluntary standards to facilitate 
                the robust deployment of advanced vehicle

[[Page 29401]]

                technologies and coordinate its efforts with the 
                Department of Transportation, the NHTSA, and the EPA.

                Sec. 4. General Provisions.

                    (a) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent 
                with applicable law, including international trade 
                obligations, and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (b) This memorandum is not intended to, and does 
                not, create any right or benefit, substantive or 
                procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any 
                party against the United States, its departments, 
                agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or 
                agents, or any other person.
                    (c) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed 
                to impair or otherwise affect:

(1) authority granted by law to a department, agency, or the head thereof; 
or

(2) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                Sec. 5. Publication.

                The Secretary of Transportation is hereby authorized 
                and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal 
                Register.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    WASHINGTON, May 21, 2010

[FR Doc. 2010-12757
Filed 5-25-10; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4910-62-P