My name is Matthew Davis, and I am testifying in opposition of LD 615 on behalf of Environment Maine. Environment Maine advocates for clean air, clean water and open spaces on behalf of 3,000 members statewide. This bill would make it difficult and cumbersome for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to adopt important standards for automobile emissions that protect our air. Also, the DEP’s current rulemaking process allows ample public participation and oversight by the Legislature and needs no changes.
The DEP currently has implemented the Low Emissions Vehicle II program, as have Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and California. The DEP has the authority and the legal responsibility to adopt tailpipe emissions standards in accordance with other Northeast states and California. Since the adoption of this program in 1991, there have been numerous changes to the program to allow greater flexibility for meeting the standards and to keep pace with technological advances. The DEP has adopted these changes through rulemaking, allowing Maine to keep pace with other states and to keep a standard playing field across the states for auto manufacturers.
Curbing automobile emissions are critical to cleaning up our air. Tailpipe emissions are the largest source of air pollution in Maine, especially smog pollution and air toxics such as benzene and formaldehyde. Smoggy air in the summer takes its toll on Mainers’ health, causing and exacerbating asthma. Also, half of Maine’s counties do not comply with 8-hr ground level ozone standards. A slowdown in the process of implementing and updating emissions standards may keep Maine from coming into compliance with clean air standards. Continued non-compliance could jeopardize federal funding for highway projects in the state and force local industries to drastically reduce their emissions or buy costly offsets. In fact, keeping strict tailpipe emissions standards is a critical piece of Maine’s State Implementation Plan, which the DEP is currently submitting.
Also, the rulemaking process within DEP allows ample opportunity for public participation and debate. The DEP weighs the pros and cons of any proposed changes to see how it will affect our state. The Department is required by law to post information on the rules and respond to any comments before finalizing a rule. Legislators and members of the public have time to submit comments on any rule changes in tailpipe emissions.
Again, I would like to reiterate Environment Maine’s opposition to LD 615 because the bill would needlessly hamper the DEP’s efforts to clean our air. Thank you for your consideration.
