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SUMMARY- Our article is based on the senate panel passes cross border pollution measure, what this mean is that The U.S. senate environment and public works committee has passed legislation that would require vehicles that pass daily into the United States from Mexico to meet state emission control standards. According to the law, California is to control the pollution to all of the state, to avoid harming the people who live in the state. The bill was written in response to a study completed by the San Diego Air Pollution Control District. They found 7,000 vehicles registered in Mexico and driven to the U. S. on a daily basis, producing up to 14% of the region's total pollution. California law currently requires vehicles registered outside of the United States, that commute to the U.S. on a daily basis, to meet California emission standards. However, these state laws cannot be enforced by federal border officials. The report also calculated that particulates and other pollutants are very much an issue WE CHOOSE THIS ARTICLE because we were interested in how the pollution would affect the state and the people. We also choose this article because at first we didn't know what was it about, but after reading a little bit it was very interest and important. THE CENTRAL ISSUE OF THIS ARTICLE is that cars were found in San Diego with no smog control because they were registered in another country [which is Mexico]. Also they do that to protect the society. UNDERLYING ISSUE includes the attempt to protect the society and the country from the smog from the cars. That's why the government requires all this so everyone have a better, healthy life with out the smog. THIS STORY FOCUS on the cars driven to the U.S. on a daily basis, producing up to 14% of the region's total air pollution. In the legislation, there will be a six month delay before the vehicles are denied entry to the U.S. The legislation initially applies only in California; not at other places, but other states have the opinion to say something in to the program. Also, this article is talking about how to prevent this. 5 CRITICAL QUESTIONS
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The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has passed legislation that would require vehicles passing daily into the United States from Mexico to meet state emission control standards. The legislation previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously. California law currently requires vehicles registered outside of the United States that commute to the U.S. on a daily basis to meet California emission standards. However, these state laws cannot be enforced by federal border officials. The Border Smog Reduction Act would give federal officials the authority to deny these commuter vehicles from entering the U.S. The legislation would not impact tourists or visitors from Mexico. The legislation specifically targets those vehicles that enter the U.S. on a regular basis for education or job opportunities. The bill was written in response to a study completed by the San Diego Air Pollution Control District that found 7,000 vehicles registered in Mexico and driven to the U.S. on a daily basis producing up to 14 percent of the region's total air pollution. If the legislation is enacted, there will be a six-month delay before vehicles are denied entry to the U.S. The legislation initially applies only in California, but other states have the option to opt-in to the program. |
Fighting Cross Border Air Pollution The Harris Government is going to court to reduce incoming pollution from the United States. Half of the smog which exists in Ontario comes from a polluting source in America. We know that smog aggravates a wide range of health problems, including asthma, bronchitis and cardiac illness. For these reasons, the province is supporting a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruling that requires 22 states (plus the District of Columbia) to reduce trans-boundary air pollution by May, 2003. The rule is intended to reduce U.S. ground level ozone emissions of nitrogen oxides, the main gases responsible for smog. Tougher Standards in Ontario Ontario has already established more stringent measures than those in the U.S. For example, Ontario has a more aggressive target for reducing smog-causing emissions. Our Smog Plan calls for a reduction of 45 percent by 2015. Measures are already in place to get us halfway to that goal. This EPA rule is being challenged by eight states, including nearby Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. In addition, these states are being supported in their challenge by interests such as electricity generators, coal miners and manufacturing associations. On the other hand, a number of states that are impacted by the EPA decision have come out in favour of the rule, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. Other Measures to Fight Smog The province has implemented a number of measures to tackle air pollution. We have introduced the Drive Clean program to reduce emissions from vehicles, which are the single largest domestic contributor of smog-causing pollutants. When fully implemented, this program will reduce smog-causing pollutants from vehicles by 22 percent per year. The provincial government has also implemented a regulation requiring less polluting gasoline formulas during the summer months. This measure alone is expected to reduce emissions of smog-causing volatile organic compounds by 18,000 tonnes per year. In addition, in Ontario, an interim standard for particulate matter has been set. The Countdown Acid Rain Program has also been successful. All regulated sources are on track and have done better than their regulated requirements. In fact, in 1997, Ontario's SO2 emissions were 70 percent below the base level in 1980. As Ontario continues to make progress in reducing air pollution within our own jurisdiction, we must also take this campaign to those places outside the province from which a significant portion of our smog comes. This legal intervention in support of the Environmental Protection Agency is one important way we can accomplish this goal. |
Washington, D.C., July 22, 1998 - The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation (H.R. 8) that would require vehicles passing daily into the United States from Mexico to meet state emission control standards. The legislation now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration. "H.R. 8 is a bill that helps states enforce our existing air pollution control strategy at our borders. It is a modest but very effective way to help improve both our air quality and the environment. When this bill is signed into law by the president, we'll be that much closer to the day when smoke-belching cars crossing into the U.S. will be a thing of the past," said Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., who sponsored the legislation. California law currently requires vehicles registered outside of the United States that commute to the U.S. on a daily basis to meet California emission standards. However, these state laws cannot be enforced by federal border officials. The Border Smog Reduction Act would give federal officials the authority to deny these commuter vehicles from entering the U.S. The legislation would not impact tourists or visitors from Mexico. The legislation specifically targets those vehicles that enter the U.S. on a regular basis for education or job opportunities. The bill was written in response to a study completed by the San Diego Air Pollution Control District that found 7,000 vehicles registered in Mexico and driven to the U.S. on a daily basis producing up to 14 percent of the region's total air pollution. If the legislation is enacted, there will be a six-month delay period before vehicles are denied entry to the U.S. The legislation initially applies only in California, but other states have the option to opt-in to the program. The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind, serving more than 13,000 businesses and approximately 60,000 professionals from all segments of the automotive service industry. ASA is headquartered in Bedford, Texas.
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