The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed cleaner fuels and cars standards to lessen harmful pollution in the country.
Commenting on the standards, EPA acting administrator Bob Perciasepe said that the government has been working to revive the auto industry and see to it that the cars over the next years are cleaner and more efficient.
The proposed standards will enable the state to lower harmful levels of smog and soot by 80%, and make simpler their ability to attain and maintain science-based national ambient air quality standards to defend public health.
These clean transportation standards, which are expected to lower vehicle emissions of toxic air pollutants by about 40%, will be implemented in the next phase of EPA’s national program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks beginning in model year 2017.
"Today’s proposed standards – which will save thousands of lives and protect the most vulnerable — are the next step in our work to protect public health and will provide the automotive industry with the certainty they need to offer the same car models in all 50 states," added Perciasepe.
The proposal, when published in the Federal Register, will be available for public comment and public hearings will be held by EPA to receive more public input.
In addition, the cleaner fuels and cars program is anticipated to prevent around 2,400 premature deaths and 23,000 cases of respiratory ailments in children annually by 2030.