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Legal Action Cites
Chrysler, Producers for Continuing Use of Lead-Based Wheel
Weights
The Center for Environmental
Health (CEH) today initiated legal action to stop the sale of lead-based
wheel weights in the state of California, due to the threat of lead
pollution to the state's waterways from wheel weights that fall from
cars and trucks. CEH notified the major producers of wheel weights and
Chrysler, a leading auto maker, that the lead-based weights are illegal
under state's safe drinking water law. While other auto makers have
eliminated or are moving away from the use of lead wheel weights,
Chrysler continues to use the lead-polluting product for most of its new
U.S. car models.
Tentative Agreement
Reached on National Auto Mercury Switch Recovery Program
This week,
representatives from the automobile and auto recycling industries,
environmental community, states and the US EPA reached a tentative
agreement on elements of a national program for recovering up to 80 tons
of mercury switches from scrapped automobiles, most of which now ends up
in our air when auto scrap is remelted in steel recycling plants.
Industry-NGO Partnership Calls on Ford to Remove Mercury Switches
from Recalled Vehicles
Inside the 3.8 million vehicles that Ford is
recalling for defective cruise control switches are approximately 2.5
million mercury switches that pose another threat to the public. These
switches combined contain as much as 6,500 pounds of mercury, which is
as much mercury as the top five emitting coal-fired power plants emit in
one year.
Environmentalists Move to
Ban major Automotive Lead Use
Automotive wheel balancing
weights are one of the largest unregulated sources of lead to the
environment, accounting for an estimated 4,865 metric tons of lead being
released onto U.S. roadways each year. The Ecology Center's "Lead Free
Wheels" program has worked to install over 25,000 lead free weights
(made of zinc and steel) in fleets around the country and has now
petitioned EPA to ban the sale of lead weights within 2 years.
Automaker Strategies
Aggravate Global Warming
Despite growing concern over global
warming, major automakers still pursue product strategies that make the
problem worse. Through 2003, carbon dioxide emissions -- a primary cause
of global warming -- from U.S. cars and light trucks have increased 25
percent above the 1990 levels, according to a new report by
Environmental Defense.
U.S. Automakers
Receive Near Failing Grades on the Use of Environmentally Safe Plastics
in Cars
U.S. automakers received nearly failing grades in
the use of recyclable, safe plastics in vehicles, according to a report
released today by the Michigan-based Ecology Center, in collaboration
with Clean Production Action. The six top-selling automakers in the U.S.
were graded on their commitment to using environmentally friendly
plastics. Toyota led the group with a C, while Ford, Daimler Chrysler
and General Motors were among the lowest scoring companies, all
receiving D's.
New UCS Report Ranks Environmental Performance of Automakers
Report uses government data to provide a quantitative analysis of
automakers' environmental performance, helping consumers, investors, and
lawmakers sort through manufacturers' billion-dollar advertising campaigns
and public relations efforts to find out which one is truly the greenest.
Bipartisan Commission Supports Tax
Credit for Production of Advanced Technology Vehicles and Components in
the U.S.
A bipartisan group of top energy experts from
industry, government, labor, academia, and environmental and consumer
groups has released a consensus strategy that recommends providing
consumer and manufacturer tax incentives to encourage domestic
production and boost sales of efficient hybrid and advanced diesel
vehicles.
Mercury Pollution From
Automobiles at Record Levels
According to a new analysis by the Clean Car
Campaign, a record 18,000 pounds of mercury pollution was released into
the environment last year in the U.S. when scrap vehicles were processed
for recycling. An estimated 246,000 pounds of mercury have been
released into the environment over the past 30 years, and an equal
amount could potentially be released over the next two decades if action
is not taken soon to recover the mercury in vehicles before they are
scrapped.
Upheld Maine Law Will Help
Reduce Health Risk From Toxic Mercury
Environmental Defense
called the ruling today by the U.S. District Court, First Circuit to
uphold the Maine mercury auto switch law a triumph for human health and
the environment. This law requires the auto industry to set up a system
and pay for the removal of mercury switches from cars that contain
them.
Automobile Industry Largest
Source of Lead Pollution Today
The use of lead in cars accounts
for the largest remaining source of lead pollution, finds a new report
released today entitled "Getting the Lead Out: Impacts of and
Alternatives for Automotive Lead Uses". One car component, the lead
starter battery, is responsible for the majority of current lead use in
the world.
Global Warming Will Alter
Character of Great Lakes Region
A comprehensive new study by a
team of leading scientists from Midwest universities and Canada examines
the potential impacts of climate change upon the various ecosystems in
the Great Lakes Region. The two-year study represents the current state
of scientific knowledge about the potential regional impacts of climate
change, which is caused principally by carbon dioxide emissions from
power plants, vehicles, and clearing forests.
New Book Ranks Greenest 2003 Cars
and SUVs
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
(ACEEE) has released the new ACEEE's Green Book®: The Environmental Guide to Cars &
Trucks - Model Year 2003. The guide helps consumers compare
vehicles on the basis of a "Green Score," a measure that incorporates
fuel consumption and air pollution, including both unhealthy tailpipe
emissions and the emissions of gases that cause global warming.
Hybrids Can Revolutionize
Roads with 60 MPG Cars and Trucks (But Automakers Can't Skimp on
Technology)
America's cars and trucks can reach an average of 60
miles per gallon by the end of the next decade if automakers use the
best hybrid vehicle technologies and mass-produce them fleet-wide,
according to a new report released today by the Union of Concerned
Scientists.
Bank to
Replace Fleet With Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Ohio Savings
Bank/AmTrust Bank, one of the top ten mortgage lenders in the U.S., has
committed to replacing company vehicles with environmentally friendly
hybrid electric vehicles wherever feasible. The bank estimates that it
will purchase 24 hybrid electric vehicles in the next two years.
(October 14, 2002)
New Report Measures U.S.
Automakers' Corporate Culpabilities For Global Warming Pollution
A new report issued by Environmental Defense appraises for the first
time the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by the new vehicles sold each
year by major auto manufacturers. (July 30, 2002)
Maine Passes Bill to Remove
Toxic Mercury From Vehicles
The Partnership for Mercury-Free
Vehicles, a broad coalition of environmental organizations and the
industries involved in vehicle recycling, today praised the Maine
legislature's passage of the nation's first law to mandate manufacturer
responsibility for the removal of toxic mercury from vehicles. (April 2,
2002)
Senate Does Bidding of Automotive Industry (March 13, 2002)
Recycling and Steel Industries
Team Up With Environmental Organizations to Eliminate Mercury Switches
in Autos
Today, a broad national coalition voiced its support
for legislation in Maine aimed at removing mercury-added components from
automobiles (January 30, 2002)
New Study Says Fuel Cell Vehicles
Face Technical and Policy Barriers
Promising Technology May
Founder Without Broad Requirements For Higher Car And Truck Efficiency
(January 3, 2002) Download report
synopsis
Environmental Groups
Call On Automakers To Replace Toxic Mercury
Groups Applaud
Similar Call To Ford By State Attorneys General (July 2, 2001 --
Washington)
States Call For Removal of Toxic
Car Part: Attorneys General Say Mercury Light Switch Poses Major
Environmental Hazard
Buffalo Police Fleet Sheds Toxic Mercury (April 25, 2001 -- Buffalo)
Canadian Auto Workers(CAW) Council Resolution on Mercury(April 2001)
Automotive Recyclers Association Challenges Manufacturers to Take Responsibility for Vehicle Mercury They Produce (January 26, 2001 -- FAIRFAX, Va.)
Automobile Indusrty Major
Source Of Toxic Mercury Pollution
Despite 1995 Commitments To
End Its Use, US Automakers Continue To Use Mercury In Autos (January
22, 2001 -- Detroit)
Consumers Demand Clean Cars:Environmental Groups Rally at Entrance of North American International Auto Show (January 5, 2001 Detroit, MI)
City of Ann Arbor First Municipality to Endorse Clean Car Campaign
Honda, Toyota and General Motors Earn "Clean Car Salute" at Detroit Auto Show, 1/10/00 View (html)
email: info@cleancarcampaign.org