RulesCommunications Highlights 2010 0622

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Sample Letter to Support Global Warming Regulations Mary Nichols, Chairman California Air Resources Board 10011 Street Sacramento, CA 95812 Re: Support for Clean Cars Program and SB 375 to reduce vehicle emissions Dear Chairman Nichols, The [City/County] applauds the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its national leadership in the development of programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from motor vehicles in California. I strongly encourage CARB to establish more stringent vehicle emission standards for the next decade, while also working to ensure our communities are designed to reduce our dependency on driving. Our state's landmark global warming strategies provide a roadmap for transitioning to a robust, clean economy while also providing significant public health and environmental benefits. Although our state has made progress in combating air pollution over the past 30 years, the fact remains that the vast majority of California residents still breathe unhealthy air and remain at risk for respiratory illnesses and even premature death. Air pollution is particularly harmful to our most vulnerable populations, such as infants and children, the elderly, those living in low- income communities or those suffering with chronic illnesses like asthma or heart disease. Unfortunately, global warming is expected to compound these problems by further threatening the quality of the air we breathe and increasing our public health burdens. As transportation sources represent the largest contributors to greenhouse gases, smog and other air pollutants in our state, CARB must remain focused on reducing vehicle emissions. Improving land use planning, and strengthening conventional vehicle emission standards into the 50 mile per gallon range in the next decade will advance California's fight against global warming and air pollution and protect our quality of life. Therefore, I urge CARB to develop and adopt the next generation of motor vehicle standards in 2010 by expanding California's Low Emission Vehicle (LEV III) program to reduce criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases from new vehicles and to strengthen California's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program to hasten the transition to truly clean transportation. I also support the adoption of strong regional targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles by encouraging improved land use and transportation planning to reduce vehicle emissions, as envisioned by Senate Bill 375 (Steinberg, 2008). Thank you for your leadership on global warming and air quality policy. I urge you to continue this important work to benefit the health of the people of California for generations to come. Sincerely,