N.Y. Adopts Tough California Emissions Standard for Autos

Promising New Yorkers cleaner air, state officials Thursday adopted the tough California motor vehicle emissions standard for cars sold in New York after 1993.

In doing so, New York became the second state in the nation to adopt standards higher than those imposed by the federal government. New Jersey and Massachusetts are expected to follow suit.

California is considering even tougher regulations that would require cleaner fuels.

The New York emission standards are identical to California standards that have been in effect for several years. Today, California officials are expected to adopt stricter standards that will require at least 10% of cars sold in California in the year 2003 to emit no pollutants.

The auto industry opposed the stricter New York standards as too expensive and not relevant to the Northeast, where they say a colder climate does not produce the same levels of ozone as in California.

But state Environmental Conservation Commissioner Thomas Jorling said the cost of the new emissions standards should be no more than $100.