OAR Recent Additions - 2004

August 2004

EPA Certifies First Hybrid SUV
[August 5, 2004] EPA has certified the first Hybrid SUV for sale in the United States. The Ford Escape Hybrid complies with EPA’s stringent new emission standards for light-duty vehicles and trucks, and according to EPA estimates, the 2-wheel drive version gets 36 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The 4-wheel drive fuel economy is estimated at 33 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Model-year 2004 SUVs averaged 17.9 mpg.
News Release | See EPA's Green Vehicle Guide

EPA's SunWise Program received a Gold Triangle Award from the American Academy of Dermatology at its Eighth Annual Awards Ceremony in New York City on July 31, 2004
[August 5, 2004] The Gold Triangle Awards recognize media, industry, health community, and individual accomplishments that further the understanding of dermatologic issues and encourage healthy behavior in the care of skin, hair, and nails. The event included greetings and congratulations to the honorees from President George Bush. Of particular note were the kind words of thanks acknowledging the support of the SunWise Program from three other Gold Triangle award winners: the Colette Coyne Melanoma Awareness Campaign, the Curt and Shonda Schilling SHADE Foundation, and Dr. Ann Haas's Sun Safe City Program. For more information on the SunWise Program please visit the SunWise Program Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise.

July 2004

Largest-Ever Grant To Study Health Effects of Air Pollution
[July 29, 2004] Administrator Mike Leavitt awarded the University of Washington a $30 million grant to study the connection between air pollution and cardiovascular disease. The grant is the largest ever awarded by the EPA for scientific research, and will contribute to a better understanding of the long-term health effects of breathing air contaminated by particulate matter and other pollutants.
News release | More ...

International Methane to Markets Partnership: Converting pollutant into energy
[July 28, 2004] Administrator Mike Leavitt announced that the United States will join efforts with Australia, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, United Kingdom, and Ukraine to develop and promote cooperation on the recovery and use of methane. Methane is a clean-burning fuel that is the main component of natural gas and is also the second most prevalent greenhouse gas from human sources.
News Release | Read More

2004 Clean Air Excellence Awards
[July 22, 2004] EPA is pleased to announce that entries are currently being accepted for the fifth annual Clean Air Excellence Awards. The awards program annually recognizes and honors both individuals and organizations that have helped to improve air quality.
Read more

June 2004

Efficient cooling systems protect the environment and save money
[June 8, 2004] With the launch of ENERGY STAR's "Cool Change" campaign this summer, EPA is encouraging Americans to save energy, money, and protect the environment by increasing the efficiency of home cooling systems. To improve cooling system efficiency, homeowners may replace air filters, perform annual tune-ups, or install new ENERGY STAR-qualified central air conditioners.
News Release | EPA's Guide to Energy-Efficient Cooling and Heating [PDF 678k] | Energy Star Home

May 2004

Supplement to proposed Clean Air Interstate Rule released
[May 19, 2004] The Bush administration released a supplement to its proposed Clean Air Interstate Rule, providing additional implementation details, including model cap-and-trade programs for power plants that states may adopt to achieve required emissions reductions.
News Release | Read More

Stringent controls signed for industrial and agricultural diesels;
sulfur in diesel fuel to be cut 99 percent
[May 11, 2004] The Bush Administration announced EPA’s Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule, one of the most dramatic advancements in clean air protection since passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The rule, signed today, requires stringent pollution controls on diesel engines used in industries such as construction, agriculture and mining, and it will slash sulfur content of diesel fuel. In a related action, EPA announced its intent to propose new emission standards for diesel locomotives and marine diesel engines.
More information | News Release

Trends Report: Ozone levels dropping
[May 4, 2004] Ozone is at its lowest level nationally since 1980, but the downward trend is slowing. One-hour levels have been reduced by 29% and 8-hour levels by 21%. Ozone levels are still decreasing nationwide, but the rate of decrease for 8-hour levels has slowed since 1990. EPA recently proposed rules to reduce the emission and transport of pollutants that result in ozone.
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May is Asthma Awareness Month
[May 4, 2004] EPA kicked-off Asthma Awareness Month by releasing a new video to help millions of asthma sufferers manage common asthma triggers found inside and around the home. Nationwide, 20 million Americans suffer from asthma. This includes 6.3 million children. Information is available on the EPA Web site, in both English and Spanish, on how to identify and manage asthma triggers. Tips for reducing asthma attacks include avoiding secondhand smoke, keeping pets outside or away from sleeping areas, washing bedding weekly in hot water, avoiding mold growth by reducing moisture and checking the Air Quality Index (AQI) report for information on outdoor air quality.

Check here for more information:
World Asthma Day activities "Where You Live"
Ozone and Your Health
Asthma and Indoor Environments
Air Quality Index (AQI)-AIRNow

April 2004

EPA issues designations on ozone health standards
[April 15, 2004] EPA has determined that areas of 31 states do not meet new health standards for ground-level ozone. States and communities must now submit plans for how they will reduce ozone levels. Ozone aggravates asthma, damages the lining of the lungs and makes breathing more difficult. “This isn't about the air getting dirtier,” Administrator Mike Leavitt said. “The air is getting cleaner. These new rules are about our new understanding of health threats; about our standards getting tougher and our national resolve to meet them.”
More Information | News Release

Clean Air Rules of 2004 announced
[April 14, 2004] Administrator Mike Leavitt announced the Clean Air Rules of 2004, a suite of actions that, taken together, will produce one of the most productive periods of air quality improvement in the nation's history.
More information | Speech

March 2004

Clean Air Excellence Awards recognize 13 innovative environmental efforts
[March 23, 2004] Thirteen local and state governments, industries and citizens groups today received national recognition at EPA’s fourth annual Clean Air Excellence Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The Clean Air Excellence Awards, sponsored by EPA, recognize and honor outstanding projects, programs and individuals achieving cleaner air.
News Release | Read more

Additional public comment sought on 'Low-Activity' Radioactive Waste Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
[March 10, 2004] EPA is extending the public comment period for the "Low Activity" Radioactive Waste Management Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) by 60 days to May 17, 2004. The "low activity" radioactive waste ANPR is a non-regulatory effort to begin public dialogue on the wide-range of issues surrounding the effective management of radioactive waste. The 60 day extension of the comment period will allow further public input on the important questions framed by the "low activity" waste ANPR.
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More Americans look for ENERGY STAR, consumer survey says
[March 10, 2004] Public awareness of the ENERGY STAR label has jumped to 56 percent of U.S. households, according to a recent nationwide survey. Public awareness of the ENERGY STAR label is even higher, averaging 67 percent, in many major markets where local utilities and other organizations use ENERGY STAR to promote energy efficiency to their customers.
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Public opportunities for review and comment on Utility Mercury Reductions Proposals extended
[March 9, 2004] EPA will extend to April 30, 2004 the public comment period for the proposed Utility Mercury Reductions Rule. This extension gives the public more time to consider the December proposal and to evaluate the impacts of the supplemental proposal. On March 31, 2004, EPA will hold a hearing in Denver, CO, to listen to public comment on the supplemental proposal.
Utility Mercury Reductions Rule

EPA showcases the world's first full-sized hydraulic hybrid SUV
[March 8, 2004] EPA unveiled the world's first full-sized hydraulic hybrid sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the 2004 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress in Detroit, Michigan. This vehicle demonstrates that hydraulic hybrid technology has the potential to dramatically and cost-effectively improve the fuel economy of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) while at the same time improving performance.
Read More | News Release

Manufacturers will meet more stringent clean-diesel standards
[March 4, 2004] Engine manufacturers are on target to introduce new cleaner diesel engines in 2007, according to an EPA report on progress toward meeting new diesel engine standards. Once the 2007 program is fully implemented, smog-causing nitrogen oxide emissions will be reduced each year.
Clean Diesel Program | News Release

Fifty-seven businesses and organizations recognized for contributions to cleaner environment
[March 2, 2004] Recognizing outstanding contributions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency, EPA along with the Department of Energy presented the 2004 ENERGY STAR Awards to 57 businesses and organizations.
News Release | Read More

February 2004

More efficient power supplies for small electronics
[February 23, 2004] A proposal for efficiency specifications and a test procedure for single voltage external AC/DC power supplies, commonly known as external "power packs," were unveiled at an electronics conference in Anaheim, CA, on February 23. The work builds on EPA's efforts through the ENERGY STAR program to capture additional environmental benefits and energy efficiency in both active and standby modes across a wide variety of consumer electronics and office equipment.
News Release | Read More

Public hearings scheduled on clean air proposals
[February 19, 2004] EPA will hold hearings in Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, and Research Triangle Park, NC to provide additional opportunity for members of the public to participate in open comment periods on several proposals to achieve deep reductions in emissions of air pollutants from power plants. The hearings will be held concurrently on February 25 and 26.
News Release | Read More

Smartway Transport announces 50+ partners
[February 9, 2004] Voluntary freight industry program promotes fuel efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. More than 50 shippers and carriers have signed partnership agreements.
News Release | comunicado de prensa | SmartWay Transport Partnership

January 2004

Bush Administration proposes major expansion of the Clean School Bus USA Program
[January 30, 2004] EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt commended North Allegheny School District as a national model for cleaner school buses, and announced a proposal for major new funding in the president's 2005 budget for the Clean School Bus USA initiative to reduce school bus pollution.
Clean School Bus Program

Cleaner Vehicles + Cleaner Fuel = Cleaner Air!
[January 26, 2004] With a new generation of cleaner cars, SUVs and light trucks entering auto showrooms, and new low-sulfur fuel arriving at gas stations, there is new promise for cleaner air in our future.
News release | Green Vehicle Guide | Cleaner Vehicle and Gasoline Program

January is National Radon Action Month
[January 6, 2004] EPA recognizes January as National Radon Action Month to encourage the public to test their homes for radon and get radon problems fixed. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year are radon-related. Because families are spending more time indoors, January is a good time to test for this radioactive, invisible, odorless and tasteless gas.
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