CBD Press Release - New Report Documents the Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Public Health Impacts of Off-Road Vehicle Use in California



For Immediate Release, May 6, 2008

Contact: Chris Kassar, Center for Biological Diversity, (520) 609-7685
Monique Lopez, Clean Air Initiative, (760) 554-9476

New Report Documents the Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Public Health Impacts of Off-Road Vehicle Use in California

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Motorized off-road vehicle use in California releases as much greenhouse gas as burning 500,000 barrels of oil each year — equivalent to more than 1.5 million car trips from San Francisco to Los Angeles — according to a groundbreaking report released today by the Center for Biological Diversity and Clean Air Initiative.

Fuel to Burn: The Climate and Public Health Implications of Off-Road Vehicle Pollution in California is the first report to assess the impacts of off-road vehicle use on human health and global climate change. The report shows that if left unchecked, emissions from off-road vehicles will continue to skyrocket. It recommends that the state of California ensure that emissions from this source are reduced at the same pace as other sources.

“Off-road vehicles release the same greenhouse gases as your car and emit significantly more pollution. Their impact cannot continue to be ignored,” said Chris Kassar of the Center for Biological Diversity, a co-author of the report. “To meet its goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting public health, the state of California must address this growing source of pollution.”

According to the report:

• Recreational off-road vehicles — including dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles, and snowmobiles — consume 26 million gallons of gasoline each year in California. This is equivalent to the amount of gasoline used for 1.5 million car trips from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
  
• Pollution from off-road vehicles in California has doubled in the past 15 years. Some off-road vehicles emit as much pollution in a single hour as more than 30 automobiles operating for the same period.
  The state of California is facilitating the increasing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution from off-road recreation by providing financial support and permits to federal land-management agencies that encourage off-road recreation on their lands.
  
• California has among the poorest air quality in the nation and is home to 13 of 20 counties nationwide most at risk of adverse health impacts from smog. Off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles produce 118 times as much smog-forming pollution as modern cars on a per-mile basis. In Imperial County, which has among the state’s highest childhood asthma rates, off-road vehicles are a leading contributor to the region’s poor air quality. Still, California continues to exempt the most polluting off-road vehicles from state air-quality laws.
  

“Because of the significant pollution caused by off-road vehicles, a reduction in emissions will have important health benefits for Californians,” said Monique Lopez of the Clean Air Initiative.

The report urges the state to address the twin goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting public health by immediately addressing the pollution and emissions from off-road vehicles. Recommendations include:

• Consistent with the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) and a gubernatorial executive order, reducing emissions from off-road vehicles to at least 1990 levels by 2020 with further reductions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050;
• Requiring that federal agencies applying for state funding and permits are adequately addressing the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution associated with off-road vehicle use;
• Eliminating loopholes that allow continued use of polluting off-road vehicles that fail to meet state emission standards; and
• Rejecting federal permit applications for continued or expanded off-road vehicle use on public lands in areas that do not meet air-quality standards.
  

To download the Executive Summary, click here.

To download the entire report, click here.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national nonprofit conservation organization with more than 40,000 members dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

.The Clean Air Initiative, a project of the American Lung Association of San Diego & Imperial County, is dedicated to improving the air quality and health of residents in Imperial County and the Mexicali border region through education, advocacy, and support. The Clean Air Initiative coalition members include health care agencies, nonprofit organizations, environmental agencies, and Imperial Valley community members.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was wondering when they were going to take this angle. I have a feeling this approach will definately affect me and my Banshee.

I would assume that will only affect the new stuff being made. They cannot go to a manufacturer and say, hey, go back to 1985 models and make parts for them to be less of a polutant. Cars made before a certain year are exempt, so older bikes should be as well.

Unfortunately for us, the power will go down on our bikes/buggies as well.

Get a load of what their report suggests:

Are we getting those tax dollars from the 26 Million Gallons? That is a lot of gasoline.............insane article with no facts as usual.

some people are alive only cause its illegal to kill them...

And yet they allow the burning of fields in Imperial County.... Hmmm..... How many TONS of crap you suppose that puts in the air?

And don't get me started on effin Mexican cars and trucks and factories and field burning......

Loophole? Who came up with the Red sticker idea? I don't know for sure but I'm guessing the red sticker was agreed upon by the eco-nuts. More proof that anything they agree upon now and put into law will be called a loophole later.

Good point Jon.

Although I agree with your logic, look at what they are doing with diesel engines. They are going to make it mandatory for year 2000 (if I remember correct) and newer vehicles to pass a smog test even thogh they were purchased smog exempt.

sigh...

Nobody is safe anymore. Next were going to see catalytic converters in the NHRA,NASCAR, etcc...

Too bad the off road groups ASA, CORVA, etc cant figure out a way to call them out on the lack research and/ or proof...

Even my 12 year old doing a book report has to show facts and charts or at least a footnote showing sources...


What a load of crap.

as mentioned, Fields burned, Cattle, dairies, Agricultural equipment, Illegial alien Cars ( which are not registered or smogged) Factories.

I did some research with OE manufactures/importers today about this.

From what I'm told, they already knew about this before this press release.

The essence that I got from them was the report contains little if any facts that are harmful to our recreation.

There is industry one group that has just the right person on retainer who has a huge amount of influence and they have downloaded the "report" to "fact" check the same. I suspect the response from this group will blow the Center's report out of the water.

And it won't add up to dry squat. Because the facts don't matter in this arena. And all the fanfare, flag waving, and letter writing campaigns will be for show because what will really happen will be decided upon in closed door meetings. Kind of like it has always been done. And then when we are told what a great deal we are getting, anyone who questions why someone pissing down their back and telling them it's raining is a good thing will be slapped down as a malcontent.

Ok, here's my question: just exactly how much time does the CBD "report" get to fester in the public consciousness before it gets "blown out of the water?" Ask President Kerry about the wisdom of neglecting to have a sense of urgency when responding to outrageous allegations.

If they knew about this (even just in general terms) prior to its release, then why in God's name wasn't there an immediate and emphatic response? A lie repeated often enough can become the truth, and this particular lie has already been in the wild for almost 24 hours unchallenged.

Playing the media isn't rocket science, folks...

While this may be a bit of a stretch,

you know they are trying to get the polar bear listed as an endangered specie, right?

If the eff*ers get listed, EVERYTHING WE DO/WANT TO DO/BUILD/etc. will have to be judged on it's effects to global warming and how it can threaten/endanger the eff*ing bears.

Write to Kempthorne and tell him not to list the polar bears.

Think about it.........

Everything we want to do will have to pass muster not to harm them.

Including riding at Glamis.



I agree.

The Eco-nuts bullshit creates more pollution than all of our OHV's combined.

I can't answer that question at the moment.

I think after all of the "report" is digested and researched, they will write a response.

There is a lot of pressing issues that might be in front of them right now. Everything needs to get done when time allows.

President Kerry

How do you "unring" the bell??!! There are plenty of people out there that believe crap from these groups as the gospel from God. The report will be considered as fact by the lazy corrupted politicians while they decide whats best for us in our sandbox. I wouldnt be surprised to see this report used as "science" to argue or destroy the RAMP process.

The offroad groups need to stop playing nice and go after the CBD where it hurts- the $$$. What ever happened after the CBD was caught lobbying in the SD elections a couple years ago? It was posted here that orgs lose their tax exempt status for election type issues- that would keep some people from donation if they didnt get their almighty deduction!

That goes for everyone......including the OHV Orgs.

maybe its time to sue THEM directly???

The only effective way to "unring the bell" is to make more racket on your own bell. Then, when no one's looking, whack the other effers with the hammer.

I have to admit that I've not taken the time to read this "report". But, fromt the little I did review, the report fails to mention that Imperial County only only had 2 PM-10 exceeeding days last year and both were weather related. Much of the air problems in this area are also due to sources in Mexicali. Also, farm burning in Imperial County, according to CARB, has
the best control mechanisms in the state.

The report fails, from what I've read thus far, to demonstrate that EPA legal OHV's have to comply with EPA regulations in all states and the emission standard is the same as what CARB has imposed in the past few years.

I don't expect to find much factual in this "report", at a glance it just looks like the same old regurgitated garbage, that didn't have a chance at making it to the toilet before so I doubt anyone will swallow it now. Personally I think somethings got their goat, other than figuring out who we owe a few beers I say just go back to sleep...TJ