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Clean Air

AAA supports the Clean Air Act, because it has proven effective in improving air quality.

Although the Clean Air Act targeted air pollution from all sources, an important component was its focus on reducing the significant amount of pollution caused by automobiles.

As the charts below make clear, in 1970 mobile sources - including cars, light trucks/SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, aircraft, boats, lawn care equipment and construction equipment - were the leading source of harmful ozone pollutants, and the government was right to focus on reducing those emissions.

AAA supported those efforts, but we also took seriously our commitment to ensuring fair treatment for motorists. We engaged in the Environmental Protection Agency's rulemaking process to ensure regulations targeting automobiles actually reduced pollution, and didn't simply punish people who drive.

Results
The Clean Air Act has been an astounding success in the area of automobile pollution. Cars have steadily become cleaner, as have fuels. In fact, as the charts show, automobile emissions are no longer the primary source of summertime ozone smog. That remarkable progress has been made even though the number of vehicle miles traveled has increased substantially.

From the April 2000 GAO report, Air Pollution: Status of Implementation and Issues of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990:

"According to the EPA, by many measures the quality of the nation's air has improved in recent years. Specifically, ground-level ozone, particulate matter and carbon monoxide emissions have been reduced ... and motor vehicles and fuels are far cleaner than in 1990 as a result of revised emissions standards."

From the Federal Highway Administration's January 2002 publication, Transportation Air Quality: Selected Facts and Figures:

"Significant progress has been made in reducing criteria pollutant emissions from motor vehicles and improving air quality since the 1970's, even as vehicle travel has increased rapidly. The air is noticeably cleaner than in 1970, and total criteria pollutant emissions from motor vehicles are less than they were in 1970 despite a more than doubling of vehicle miles of travel."

It's Not Over Yet
Other mobile and stationary sources now are the primary polluters, and AAA advocates that those sources should reduce their emissions dramatically to match the progress made by cars. Nevertheless, cars do continue to pollute - and AAA supports fair and cost-effective means of reducing their emissions.

All Americans want cleaner air and a healthy environment. Let's build on the progress we've already made.


No Hidden Agenda
The automobile remains a source of pollution, and continued work to lower emissions is needed. AAA supports the goals of the Clean Air Act, and will continue to do so. But we also take seriously our commitment to ensuring fair treatment for motorists. We will continue to work to ensure regulations targeting automobiles actually reduce pollution, and don't simply punish people who drive.

As part of our advocacy efforts, AAA participates in a variety of efforts and organizations. We do not always agree with all participants on every issue. However, we do believe there is more to be gained from working cooperatively with groups with differing opinions than by fostering divisiveness.

Graphs and information from AAA's 1999 "Clearing the Air" report, using EPA data. (c) AAA