U.S. EPA Proposes Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule to establish more stringent vehicle emissions standards and reduce the sulfur content of gasoline beginning in 2017. The new vehicle standards align with the California Low Emission Vehicle Program, allowing automakers to sell the same vehicle models in every state. The standards would apply to light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles, and some heavy-duty vehicles and include different phase-in schedules based on vehicle class from Model Years 2017 to 2025. The proposed gasoline sulfur standard would make emission control systems more effective for both existing and new vehicles and enable more stringent vehicle emissions standards. EPA will accept comments on the proposed rule through July 1, 2013. For more information, refer to the proposed rule and the EPA Tier 3 Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards Program website.