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retary), and such standards shall be set at a level which the Secretary determines is the maximum feasible average fuel economy level which such manufacturers are able to achieve in each model year to which this subsection applies. Any standard applicable to a model year under this subsection shall be prescribed at least 18 months prior to the beginning of such model year.

(c)(1) On application of a manufacturer who manufactured (whether or not in the United States) fewer than 10,000 passenger automobiles in the second model year preceding the model year for which the application is made, the Secretary may, by rule, exempt such manufacturer from subsection (a). An application for such an exemption shall be submitted to the Secretary, and shall contain such information as the Secretary may require by rule. Such exemption may only be granted if the Secretary determines that the average fuel economy standard otherwise applicable under subsection (a) is more stringent than the maximum feasible average fuel economy level which such manufacturer can attain. The Secretary may not issue exemptions with respect to a model year unless he establishes, by rule, alternative average fuel economy standards for passenger automobiles manufactured by manufacturers which receive exemptions under this subsection. Such standards may be established for an individual manufacturer, for all automobiles to which this subsection applies, or for such classes of such automobiles as the Secretary may define by rule. Each such standard shall be set at a level which the Secretary determines is the maximum feasible average fuel economy level for the manufacturers to which the standard applies. An exemption under this subsection shall apply to a model year only if the manufacturer manufactures (whether or not in the United States) fewer than 10,000 passenger automobiles in such model year.

(2) Any manufacturer may elect in any application submitted under paragraph (1) to have the applications for, and administrative determinations regarding, exemptions and alternative average fuel economy standards be consolidated for two or more of the model years after model year 1980 and before model year 1986. The Secretary may grant an exemption and set an alternative standard or standards for all model years covered by such application.

(d)(1) Any manufacturer may apply to the Secretary for modification of an average fuel economy standard applicable under subsection (a) to such manufacturer for model year 1978, 1979, or 1980. Such application shall contain such information as the Secretary may require by rule, and shall be submitted to the Secretary within 24 months before the beginning of the model year for which such modification is requested.

(2)(A) If a manufacturer demonstrates and the Secretary finds that

(i) a Federal standards fuel economy reduction is likely to exist for such manufacturer for the model year to which the application relates, and

ogy,

(ii) such manufacturer applied a reasonably selected technolthe Secretary shall, by rule, reduce the average fuel economy standard applicable under subsection (a) to such manufacturer by

the amount of such manufacturer's Federal standards fuel economy reduction, rounded off to the nearest one-tenth mile per gallon (in accordance with rules of the Secretary). To the maximum extent practicable, prior to making a finding under this paragraph with respect to an application, the Secretary shall request, and the EPA Administrator shall supply, test results collected pursuant to section 503(d) of this Act for all automobiles covered by such application.

(B)(i) If the Secretary does not find that a Federal standards fuel economy reduction is likely to exist for a manufacturer who filed an application under paragraph (1), he shall deny the application of such manufacturer.

(ii) if the Secretary

(I) finds that a Federal standards fuel economy reduction is likely to exist for a manufacturer who filed an application under paragraph (1), and

(II) does not find that such manufacturer applied a reasonably selected technology,

the average fuel economy standard applicable under subsection (a) to such manufacturer shall, by rule, be reduced by an amount equal to the Federal standards fuel economy reduction which the Secretary finds would have resulted from the application of a reasonably selected technology.

(3) For purposes of this subsection:

(A) The term "reasonably selected technology" means a technology which the Secretary determines it was reasonable for a manufacturer to select, considering (i) the Nation's need to improve the fuel economy of its automobiles, and (ii) the energy savings, economic costs, and lead-time requirements associated with alternative technologies practicably available to such manufacturer.

(B) The term "Federal standards fuel economy reduction" means the sum of the applicable fuel economy reductions determined under subparagraph (C).

(C) The term "applicable fuel economy reduction” means a number of miles per gallon equal to—

(i) the reduction in a manufacturer's average fuel economy in a model year which results from the application of a category of Federal standards applicable to such model year, and which would not have occurred had Federal standards of such category applicable to model year 1975 remained the only standards of such category in effect, minus

(ii) 0.5 mile per gallon.

(D) Each of the following is a category of Federal standards;1 (i) Emissions standards under section 202 of the Clean Air Act, and emissions standards applicable by reason of section 209(b) of such Act.

(ii) Motor vehicle safety standards under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966.

1 So in original. Apparently should be a colon.

(iii) Noise emission standards under section 6 of the Noise Control Act of 1972.

(iv) Property loss reduction standards under title I of this Act.

(E) In making the determination under this subsection, the Secretary (in accordance with such methods as he shall prescribe by rule) shall assume a production mix for such manufacturer which would have achieved the average fuel economy standard for such model year had standards described in subparagraph (D) applicable to model year 1975 remained the only standards in effect.

(4) The Secretary may, for the purposes of conducting a proceeding under this subsection, consolidate one or more applications filed under this subsection.

(e) For purposes of this section, in determining maximum feasible average fuel economy, the Secretary shall consider

(1) technological feasibility;

(2) economic practicability;

(3) the effect of other Federal motor vehicle standards on fuel economy; and

(4) the need of the Nation to conserve energy.

(f)(1) The Secretary may, by rule, from time to time, amend any average fuel economy standard prescribed under subsection (a)(3), (b), or (c), so long as such standard, as amended, meets the requirements of subsection (a)(3), (b), or (c), as the case may be.

(2) Any amendment prescribed under this section which has the effect of making any average fuel economy standard more stringent shall be

(A) promulgated, and

(B) if required by paragraph (4) of subsection (a), submitted to the Congress,

at least 18 months prior to the beginning of the model year to which such amendment will apply.

(g)(1) At the election of any manufacturer, the fuel economy of any emergency vehicle shall not be taken into account in applying any fuel economy standard prescribed by or under subsection (a), (b), or (c). Any manufacturer electing to have the provisions of this subsection shall provide written notice of that election to the Secretary and to the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator. (2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term "emergency vehicle" means any automobile manufactured primarily for use

(A) as an ambulance or combination ambulance-hearse, (B) by the United States or by a State or local government for police or other law enforcement purposes, or

(C) for other emergency uses prescribed by the Secretary of Transportation by regulation.

(h) Proceedings under subsection (a)(4) or (d) shall be conducted in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, except that interested persons shall be entitled to make oral as well as written presentations. A transcript shall be taken of any oral presentations.

(i) The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Energy in carrying out his responsibilities under this section. The Secretary

shall, before issuing any notice proposing under subsection (a), (b), (d), or (f) of this section, to establish, reduce, or amend an average fuel economy standard, provide the Secretary of Energy with a period of not less than ten days from the receipt of the notice during which the Secretary of Energy may, upon concluding that the proposed standard would adversely affect the conservation goals set by the Secretary of Energy, provide written comments to the Secretary concerning the impacts of the proposed standard upon those goals. To the extent that the Secretary does not revise the proposed standard to take into account any comments by the Secretary of Energy regarding the level of the proposed standard, the Secretary shall include the unaccommodated comments in the notice.

(j) The Secretary shall, before taking action on any final standard under this section or any modification of or exemption from such standard, notify the Secretary of Energy and provide such Secretary with a reasonable period of time to comment thereon.

(k)(1) On the petition of any manufacturer for any model year beginning after model year 1981 and before model year 1986, the Secretary may conduct an examination of the impacts on that manufacturer or a class of manufacturers of any standard under subsection (b) applicable to 4-wheel drive automobiles. If after consideration of the results of that examination the Secretary finds in accordance with paragraph (2) that the manufacturer has demonstrated that such manufacturer or class of manufacturers would not otherwise be able to comply with such standard for that model year as it applies to 4-wheel drive automobiles without causing severe economic impacts, such as plant closures or reduction in employment in the United States related to motor vehicle manufacturing, the Secretary shall, by order, make an adjustment or otherwise provide relief regarding—

(A) the manner by which the average fuel economy of that manufacturer or class of manufacturers is calculated for purposes of that standard as it applies to 4-wheel drive automobiles, or

(B) other aspects regarding the application of that standard to the manufacturer or class of manufacturers with respect to such automobiles to the extent consistent with the provisions of this title.

(2) Any finding by the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall be made (A) after notice and a reasonable opportunity for written or oral comment, and (B) after consideration of the benefits available under the amendments made by the Automobile Fuel Efficiency Act of 1980.

(3) The authority of the Secretary under this subsection to make any adjustment or provide other relief shall not be effective for any model year after model year 1985.

(4) The Secretary shall notify the Congress of any adjustment or other relief provided under this subsection in the first annual report submitted to the Congress under section 512 after the order is issued providing for that adjustment or relief.

(5)(A) Any final decision of the Secretary under this subsection shall be made, and notice thereof published in the Federal Regis

ter, not later than 120 days after the date of the petition involved. The Secretary may extend such period to a specified date if the Secretary publishes notice thereof in the Federal Register, together with the reasons for such extension. Any such decision by the Secretary shall become final 30 days after the publication of the notice of final decision unless a petition for judicial review is filed under subparagraph (B).

(B) Any person adversely affected by such a decision may, not later than 30 days after publication of notice of such decision, file a petition for review of such decision with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia or for the circuit in which such person resides, or in which the principal place of business of such person is located. The United States court of appeals involved shall have jurisdiction to review such decision in accordance with section 706(2) (A) through (D) of title 5, United States Code, and to affirm, remand, or set aside the decision of the Secretary. Except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph, section 504 (c) and (d) shall apply to such review to the same extent and manner as it applies with respect to review of any rule prescribed under this section or section 501, 503, or 506.

(6) The availability of any adjustment or other relief under this subsection shall not be taken into account in prescribing standards under subsection (b).

(1)(1)(A) For purposes of this part, credits under this subsection shall be considered to be available to any manufacturer upon the completion of the model year in which such credits are earned under subparagraph (B) unless under subparagraph (C) the credits are made available for use at a time prior to the model year in which earned.

(B) Whenever the average fuel economy of the passenger automobiles manufactured by a manufacturer in a particular model year exceeds an applicable average fuel economy standard established under subsection (a) or (c) (determined by the Secretary without regard to any adjustment under subsection (d) or any credit under this subsection), such manufacturer shall be entitled to a credit calculated under subparagraph (C), which

(i) shall be available to be taken into account with respect to the average fuel economy of that manufacturer for any of the three consecutive model years immediately prior to the model year in which such manufacturer exceeds such applicable average fuel economy standard, and

(ii) to the extent that such credit is not so taken into account pursuant to clause (i), shall be available to be taken into account with respect to the average fuel economy of that manufacturer for any of the three consecutive model years immediately following the model year in which such manufacturer exceeds such applicable average fuel economy standard.

(C)(i) At any time prior to the end of any model year, a manufacturer which has reason to believe that its average fuel economy for passenger automobiles will be below such applicable standard for that model year may submit a plan demonstrating that such manufacturer will earn sufficient credits under subparagraph (B) within the next 3 model years which when taken into account would allow

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