AJR58: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-3080/2

RCT:kmg:km

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 58

May 24, 1999 - Introduced by Representatives Kedzie, Stone, Hoven, Grothman, Walker, Ladwig, Duff, Gunderson, Jensen, Porter, Owens, Suder, Urban, Nass, Ward, Sykora, Turner, Goetsch, Vrakas and Jeskewitz, cosponsored by Senators Darling, Huelsman, Grobschmidt and A. Lasee. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AJR58,1,2 Relating to: requesting Congress to grant this state a waiver from the requirement to use reformulated gasoline.

AJR58,1,5 Whereas, the federal Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 require the use of reformulated gasoline with oxygen additives in areas of the United States that have substantial ozone pollution; and

AJR58,1,9 Whereas, under the federal amendments, 6 ozone nonattainment counties in Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties) were required to implement use of reformulated gasoline as of January 1, 1995; and

AJR58,1,12 Whereas, industry studies initially indicated that reformulated gasoline, due to its oxygen additives, reduces the rate at which pollutants evaporate into the air, producing 15% to 17% less pollution than conventional gasoline; and

AJR58,2,2 Whereas, in January 1995, media attention and a flood of public complaints ranging from health concerns to high costs and engine performance problems led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to hold public hearings in Milwaukee and assist Wisconsin with health studies related to reformulated gasoline; and

AJR58,2,5 Whereas, when these studies concluded that usage of reformulated gasoline was sound, the Wisconsin legislature implemented laws requiring reformulated gasoline labeling at gas pumps; and

AJR58,2,8 Whereas, a new report by a committee of the National Research Council concludes that the 2 principal types of oxygen additives used in reformulated gasoline in the United States contribute little to reducing ozone pollution; and

AJR58,2,10 Whereas, the study, funded by the EPA, reports that peak ozone concentrations in many metropolitan areas have declined by 10% since 1986; and

AJR58,2,12 Whereas, Wisconsin has a proud tradition of sound environmental policies and is committed to clean air; now, therefore, be it

AJR58,2,16 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature recognize that air quality standards and improvements to vehicles over the last few decades have helped reduce emissions that create near-ground ozone; and, be it further

AJR58,2,20 Resolved, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature request the Congress of the United States to grant the state of Wisconsin a waiver from the use of reformulated gasoline as mandated in the federal Clean Air Act amendments of 1990; and, be it further

AJR58,2,25 Resolved, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature request the Congress of the United States to conduct sound research on the recent findings of the National Research Council and evaluate federal policies and EPA rules relating to reformulated gasoline, air quality and the regulation of vehicle emissions; and, be it further

AJR58,3,4 Resolved, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature request the Congress of the United States to permanently exempt the state of Wisconsin from the use of reformulated gasoline as mandated in the federal Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 if this research proves conclusive; and, be it further

AJR58,3,8 Resolved, That the members of the Wisconsin legislature request the Congress of the United States to prohibit the EPA from requiring that the negligible ozone reductions from the use of reformulated gasoline be achieved through an alternative program or mandate; and, be it further

AJR58,3,12 Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint resolution to the president of the U.S. senate and the speaker of the U.S. house of representatives and to each of the members of the congressional delegation from Wisconsin.

AJR58,3,13 (End)