NYT:EPA Holds Back Report on Car Fuel Efficiency(until energy bill passes)

[DeepModem Mom]

E.P.A. Holds Back Report on Car Fuel Efficiency
By DANNY HAKIM
Published: July 28, 2005

DETROIT, July 27 - With Congress poised for a final vote on the energy bill, the Environmental Protection Agency made an 11th-hour decision Tuesday to delay the planned release of an annual report on fuel economy.

But a copy of the report, embargoed for publication Wednesday, was sent to The New York Times by a member of the E.P.A. communications staff just minutes before the decision was made to delay it until next week. The contents of the report show that loopholes in American fuel economy regulations have allowed automakers to produce cars and trucks that are significantly less fuel-efficient, on average, than they were in the late 1980's.

Releasing the report this week would have been inopportune for the Bush administration, its critics said, because it would have come on the eve of a final vote in Congress on energy legislation six years in the making. The bill, as it stands, largely ignores auto mileage regulations.

The executive summary of the copy of the report obtained by The Times acknowledges that "fuel economy is directly related to energy security," because consumer cars and trucks account for about 40 percent of the nation's oil consumption. But trends highlighted in the report show that carmakers are not making progress in improving fuel economy, and environmentalists say the energy bill will do little to prod them.

"Something's fishy when the Bush administration delays a report showing no improvement in fuel economy until after passage of their energy bill, which fails to improve fuel economy," said Daniel Becker, the Sierra Club's top global warming strategist. "It's disturbing that despite high gas prices, an oil war and growing concern about global warming pollution, most automakers are failing to improve fuel economy."...


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/28/business/28fuel.html?hp&ex=1122523200&en=d6dca305c34783e1&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[Fovea]

1. remember after 9-11

when ** told us all to get out and drive more.

Really, what would a shill and whore for the energy
industries get out of asking us to buy less?

He's got his second term, so screw us.

[journalist3072]

3. Here's what I remember after 9/11, re: EPA

I remember that the White House edited the EPA's report on the air quality at and around Ground Zero.

The White House deleted cautionary statements, and inserted more reassuring statements about the air quality. And here's the kicker: They did not have the data or facts to support the more reassuring statements they were adding to the EPA's report.

[MisterP]

4. he also said if mall sales dropped, the terrorists won again:

he's batty

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. At least it wasn't a politically motivated decision.

[KittyWampus]

5. But The Up Side Is US Auto Makers Have Perfected The Cup Holder

huzzah!

[kestrel91316]

6. We need to remove these criminals from the WH and elsewhere in

this administration BEFORE 2006 or 2008 or whatever. They need to be tried for treason and convicted and executed . Our government is in the hands of an organized crime syndicate.

[aquart]

7. Wasn't the Times supposed to suppress this info?

They don't seem to be as...biddable...as they were.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Didn't get the call from Rove? nt

[Dover]

8. I'm FURIOUS with the car companies and will protest with my purchase

of a hybrid. 30mpg or more ought to be the average now....not 18 -20 mpg!!! That is ABSURD! They go down in efficiency as we go invade other countries for their resources. Who wants to be a part of that abuse of power? Just owning a car puts blood on our hands.
But then to support these further abuses?!!!

This is PROOF that business NEEDS regulation because they are not inclined toward self policing or the health of the planet.

[The Jacobin]

10. Well, I've bought my last Detroit car anyway.

This only adds to the dogpile of crap about Ford/GM/Daimler-Chrysler.

My wife really, really, really wanted a new Jeep. After five years of poor reliability and gas milage -- I have her convinced (I hope) to get a Toyota soon.

The last car I bought, my Dad convinced me to buy a Saturn. It's an ok car for (engine) reliability, but all the conveniences (like a working gase gauge) keep breaking far too quickly.

I'm out on Detroit. Hope they can get their act together soon.

[Erika]

11. The big SUV's with patriotic ribbons are sickening

They are hooked on oil for gas guzzlers. Bush went to war to get oil.

Our troops are dying www.icasualties.org I have no use for humvees and SUV's with patriotic magnets. It's total BS.