2
3
4
5
6
7
8 Cosponsors:
9 Carl R. Albrecht
10 Joel K. Briscoe
11 Walt Brooks
12 Rebecca Chavez-Houck
13 Kay J. Christofferson
14 Bruce R. Cutler
15 Brad M. Daw
16 Susan Duckworth
17 Rebecca P. Edwards
18 Steve Eliason
19 Gage Froerer
20 Adam Gardiner
21 Craig Hall
22 Stephen G. Handy
23 Timothy D. Hawkes
Lynn N. Hemingway
Sandra Hollins
Eric K. Hutchings
Brian S. King
Karen Kwan
A. Cory Maloy
Kelly B. Miles
Carol Spackman Moss
Jefferson Moss
Merrill F. Nelson
Derrin R. Owens
Lee B. Perry
Jeremy A. Peterson
Dixon M. Pitcher
Val K. Potter
Marie H. Poulson
Susan Pulsipher
Tim Quinn
Paul Ray
Edward H. Redd
Douglas V. Sagers
V. Lowry Snow
Robert M. Spendlove
Raymond P. Ward
Christine F. Watkins
R. Curt Webb
Elizabeth Weight
John R. Westwood
Mark A. Wheatley
Brad R. Wilson
Mike Winder
24
25 LONG TITLE
26 General Description:
27 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor encourages the citizens
28 of the state, when purchasing a vehicle, to consider the vehicle's smog rating and other
29 environmental impacts.
30 Highlighted Provisions:
31 This resolution:
32 ▸ recognizes how vehicle emissions impact Utah's air quality;
33 ▸ acknowledges the air quality benefits of purchasing a vehicle with a smog rating of
34 eight or higher; and
35 ▸ encourages citizens of the state to:
36 • consider a vehicle's smog rating; and
37 • purchase a vehicle with a smog rating of eight or higher.
38 Special Clauses:
39 None
40
41 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
42 WHEREAS, many of Utah's residents live in areas that experience periods when fine
43 particulate or ozone pollution exceeds federal air quality standards;
44 WHEREAS, the Wasatch Front's and Cache Valley's unique geography are major
45 contributors to serious air pollution during winter inversions as polluted colder air is trapped by
46 warmer air and hemmed in by Utah's mountain ranges;
47 WHEREAS, according to the Utah Foundation, "Studies have shown that ozone and
48 inversion-type particulate exposure can shorten life expectancy, exacerbate cardiovascular and
49 respiratory issues, and increase infant mortality rates";
50 WHEREAS, as Utah's population continues to grow, so will the challenges to reducing
51 vehicle pollutants;
52 WHEREAS, vehicle miles traveled in the state of Utah are expected to double between
53 2013 and 2040;
54 WHEREAS, areas that fail to comply with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards'
55 pollutant standards are classified as "nonattainment" areas, and vehicle sources account for a
56 large percentage of emissions in Utah's nonattainment counties;
57 WHEREAS, during the winter, 48% of the emissions that lead to fine particulate
58 pollution along the Wasatch Front comes from mobile sources;
59 WHEREAS, vehicles account for 45% of the emissions that lead to summertime ozone
60 formation;
61 WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that a
62 new vehicle be tested and its emissions analyzed before it is sold;
63 WHEREAS, the EPA provides a "smog rating" for vehicles that reflects tailpipe
64 emissions that contribute to local and regional air pollution;
65 WHEREAS, smog ratings range from one to 10, with one being the most polluting to
66 the environment and 10 being the least polluting;
67 WHEREAS, the average new vehicle sold has a smog rating of five;
68 WHEREAS, purchasing a vehicle with a smog rating of eight results in one-fifth the
69 emissions of a vehicle with a smog rating of five;
70 WHEREAS, all new vehicles model year 2013 or newer are sold with a label featuring
71 the vehicle's smog rating and other information regarding the vehicle's environmental impact;
72 WHEREAS, emissions standards for used vehicles can be identified by locating the
73 Vehicle Emissions Control Information label on the underside of the vehicle's hood; and
74 WHEREAS, in 2013, at Governor Gary R. Herbert's request, Envision Utah convened a
75 Clean Air Action Team that recommended as a first immediate action to "bring cleaner cars
76 and fuel to Utah as soon as possible," and further recommended to encourage the sale and
77 purchase of vehicles with a smog rating of eight or higher:
78 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
79 Governor concurring therein, encourages citizens of the state, when purchasing a vehicle, to
80 consider the vehicle's smog rating and other environmental impacts.
81 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage
82 automobile dealers to make a vehicle's smog rating known to customers when they are
83 purchasing a vehicle, just as they would fuel economy.
84 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage
85 citizens to purchase a vehicle with a smog rating of eight or higher where such vehicle meets
86 the purchaser's needs.