AUTOMOTIVE AIR POLLUTION

A REPORT

OF THE

SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND
WELFARE

TO THE

UNITED STATES CONGRESS

PURSUANT TO

Public Law 88-206

THE CLEAN AIR ACT

JANUARY 15, 1965.—Referred to the Committee on Public Works and ordered to be printed

EXCERPT FROM CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
OF JANUARY 15, 1965

Mr. MCNAMARA. Mr. President, I present a letter from the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, transmitting a report on the problem of air pollution caused by motor vehicles and measures taken toward its alleviation, dated December 17, 1964 (together with an accompanying report), in compliance with Public Law 88-206, the Clean Air Act.

I ask unanimous consent that the report be printed as a Senate document and referred to the Committee on Public Works.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE,

Hon. CARL HAYDEN,

President pro tempore,

U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., December 17, 1964.

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: In accordance with the provisions of section 6(b) of the Clean Air Act, Public Law 88-206, I am pleased to transmit herewith a report on the problem of air pollution caused by motor vehicles and measures taken toward its alleviation.

Since the last report on this subject submitted to the Congress by this Department, namely, that forwarded by the Surgeon General in June 1962, considerable progress has been made in the understanding of this problem and its effects, and in the development of technical procedures for dealing with it. A considerable amount of additional study will be required to improve our technical capability to deal satisfactorily with this problem. However, because of its importance to air pollution control in all areas of the country, it is equally essential that, as progress is made, there be no undue delay in the application of all available and reasonable means to decrease the scope and intensity of air pollution from this source.

Sincerely,

ANTHONY J. CELEBREZZE, Secretary.

AUTOMOTIVE AIR POLLUTION

INTRODUCTION

This report is respectfully submitted in accordance with the provisions of section 6(b) of Public Law 88-206, 88th Congress, which states as follows:

SEC. 6(b) One year after enactment of this section, and semiannually thereafter, the Secretary shall report to the Congress on measures taken toward the resolution of the vehicle exhaust pollution problem and efforts to improve fuels including (A) occurrence of pollution as a result of discharge of pollutants from automotive exhaust; (B) progress of research into development of devices and fuels to reduce pollution from exhaust of automotive vehicles; (C) criteria on degree of pollutant matter discharged from automotive exhausts; (D) efforts to improve fuels so as to reduce emission of exhaust pollutants; and (E) his recommendations for additional legislation, if necessary, to regulate the discharge of pollutants from automotive exhausts.

In the implementation of the act there has been established an advisory committee composed of three representatives of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and one each from the industries which manufacture automotive vehicles, emission control devices, and engine fuels. The Automotive Vehicle and Fuel Pollution Advisory Committee has met three times to discuss and provide status knowledge of the automotive vehicle and fuel pollution problem and to consider needed research.

The status information presented in this report in effect updates pertinent sections of the report "Motor Vehicles, Air Pollution, and Health" submitted to the U.S. Congress in June 1962 by the Surgeon General, Public Health Service, in compliance with Public Law 86493. Much of the information presented in the Surgeon General's report is current but a number of significant developments have taken place since 1962 and are discussed herein.

It will be apparent that definitive answers still are not offered with respect either to the problem or to its solution. As was true at the time of the writing of the Surgeon General's report the complexities of determining mass emissions and minimum acceptable air quality are not immediately and simply overcome. Progress has been continuing in the activities of both Government and industry. Studies are being conducted, generally by governmental agencies, to evaluate the effects on composition of exhaust gases of various emission control devices, fuel types, and combustion system parameters. Investigations are continuing on the effects of vehicle pollutant emissions on biological systems, animal and plant. Intensive study also is underway relating to the measurement and classification of the relative reactivity in the atmosphere of various hydrocarbon compounds discharged from vehicles. Limited work is in progress on the identification of hydrocarbon emissions and the characterization of odor in diesel exhaust.