Delayed auto pollution rules land at White House for review

The White House has begun a review of delayed Environmental Protection Agency rules that will require lower pollution from gasoline and vehicles.

EPA, which had earlier planned to finalize the regulations in 2012, sent draft rules to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review on Tuesday.

Environmental and public health groups have strongly pressed for the so-called Tier 3 vehicle and fuel standards to curb smog-forming and particulate-matter pollution.

One advocate called for quick publication of the proposed rules in order to put them on track to be finalized in 2013.

“This is a crucial plan to cut smog levels nationwide. Every car on the road would immediately pollute less with lower-sulfur gasoline. OMB must not delay this important rule. It needs to be proposed ASAP and put in final form before the end of the year,” said Frank O’Donnell of Clean Air Watch.

But the rules have drawn pushback from refining industry groups. For instance, last year American Petroleum Institute CEO Jack Gerard accused EPA of failing to justify plans to toughen vehicle and fuel emissions rules.

He alleged that EPA is pushing ahead with tougher sulfur rules “without regard to the impacts on fuel prices.”