This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Mon, Feb 13, 2017 at 10:10 AM by jeyring.
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8 Cosponsor:
Edward H. Redd
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10 LONG TITLE
11 General Description:
12 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor encourages the citizens
13 of the state, when purchasing a vehicle, to consider the vehicle's smog rating and other
14 environmental impacts.
15 Highlighted Provisions:
16 This resolution:
17 ▸ recognizes how vehicle emissions impact Utah's air quality;
18 ▸ acknowledges the air quality benefits of purchasing a vehicle with a smog rating of
19 eight or higher; and
20 ▸ encourages citizens of the state to:
21 • consider a vehicle's smog rating; and
22 • purchase a vehicle with a smog rating of eight or higher.
23 Special Clauses:
24 None
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26 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
27 WHEREAS, many of Utah's residents live in areas that experience periods when fine
28 particulate or ozone pollution exceeds federal air quality standards;
29 WHEREAS, the Wasatch Front's and Cache Valley's unique geography are major
30 contributors to serious air pollution during winter inversions as polluted Ĥ→ [
30a air is trapped
31 by Ĥ→ [
32 WHEREAS, according to the Utah Foundation, "Studies have shown that ozone and
33 inversion-type particulate exposure can shorten life expectancy, exacerbate cardiovascular and
34 respiratory issues, and increase infant mortality rates";
35 WHEREAS, as Utah's population continues to grow, so will the challenges to reducing
36 vehicle pollutants;
37 WHEREAS, vehicle miles traveled in the state of Utah are expected to double between
38 2013 and 2040;
39 WHEREAS, areas that fail to comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards'
40 pollutant standards are classified as "nonattainment" areas, and vehicle sources account for a
41 large percentage of emissions in Utah's nonattainment counties;
42 WHEREAS, during the winter, 48% of the emissions that lead to fine particulate
43 pollution along the Wasatch Front comes from mobile sources;
44 WHEREAS, vehicles account for 45% of the emissions that lead to summertime ozone
45 formation;
46 WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that a
47 new vehicle be tested and its emissions analyzed before it is sold;
48 WHEREAS, the EPA provides a "smog rating" for vehicles that reflects tailpipe
49 emissions that contribute to local and regional air pollution;
50 WHEREAS, smog ratings range from one to 10, with one being the most polluting to
51 the environment and 10 being the least polluting;
52 WHEREAS, the average new vehicle sold has a smog rating of five;
53 WHEREAS, purchasing a vehicle with a smog rating of eight results in one-fifth the
54 emissions of a vehicle with a smog rating of five;
55 WHEREAS, all new vehicles model year 2013 or newer are sold with a label featuring
56 the vehicle's smog rating and other information regarding the vehicle's environmental impact;
57 WHEREAS, emissions standards for used vehicles can be identified by locating the
58 Vehicle Emissions Control Information label on the underside of the vehicle's hood; and
59 WHEREAS, in 2013, at Governor Gary R. Herbert's request, Envision Utah convened a
60 Clean Air Action Team that recommended as a first immediate action to "bring cleaner cars
61 and fuel to Utah as soon as possible," and further recommended to encourage the sale and
62 purchase of vehicles with a smog rating of eight or higher:
63 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
64 Governor concurring therein, encourages citizens of the state, when purchasing a vehicle, to
65 consider the vehicle's smog rating and other environmental impacts.
66 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage
67 automobile dealers to make a vehicle's smog rating known to customers when they are
68 purchasing a vehicle, just as they would fuel economy.
69 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage
70 citizens to purchase a vehicle with a smog rating of eight or higher where such vehicle meets
71 the purchaser's needs.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel