White House begins review of auto emissions and mileage rule

The White House Office of Management and Budget has begun reviewing a final EPA-Transportation Department joint rule that sets tougher vehicle mileage targets and creates first-time tailpipe standards for greenhouse gases.

The plan covers model years 2012-2016, setting a mileage standard that ultimately reaches 35.5 miles per gallon and a carbon dioxide emissions standard that reaches 250 grams per mile fleet-wide.

OMB received the final rule from the agencies Monday, according to its website, and the agencies hope to issue the measure at the end of this month or the beginning of April.

The rule represents a deal between states, automakers and the federal government. It phases in tougher mileage standards more quickly than a 2007 law that increased the standards requires.

But automakers gain because California and roughly a dozen other states that follow its lead on emissions rules are deferring to the federal standard for the 2012-2016 period, thereby helping the manufacturers avoid a patchwork of state emissions rules.

The White House is fighting a proposal by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) that would nullify EPA’s power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Murkowski fears the economic effects of regulating stationary sources like power plants, but administration officials are emphasizing that her plan would also upend the auto rule.