'Fuel standards,
alternatives
essential
(Continued from Page 3)
predictions are that by 1985-87 its oil
capacity will be short. The lines at gas
stations in past years in this country
were "nothing compared to what we're
going to see," Gray said.
Another alternative fuel, synthetic
crude, "doesn't appear to be as attrac-
tive right now," Gray said. "The
technology to control emissions is not
available," and because the emissions
problem is inherent in an engine run-
ning on synthetic crude, if may never
be.
THE NUMBER OF diesel run
vehicles on the road will probably in-
crease in the future, Gray said.
However, diesel fuel presents its own
- special emissions problem.
Diesel fuel emissions contain a
mutagenic particulate that is a health
hazard. "The issue is how much of a
health hazard" these particulates are,
Gray said.
The diesel emission particles lodge in
the lung and degrade its capacity, he
said. "The concern is that particles of
that size are retained and come into
direct contact with the lungs, and are
. mutagenic," Gray said.
THE EPA HAS been conducting
diesel emission comparative analyses
and breathing tests with animals. The
initial findings, Gray said, show "the
potency of diesel particulates is not as
high as other carcinogens. It looks like
it's weak." Mutagens are similar to
carcinogens in how the body reacts to
them, he explained.
Testing is continuing, but judgment
of risk is difficult because "there is no
real threshold" of risk when dealing
with mutagens, Gray said. "It (diesel
particulate) is not as strong as some
(carcinogens), but a lot of people will
beexposed."
Gray said efforts to clean the air have
been successful in this country. "You
can go into the cities and see the dif-
ference. And if there is no roll-back of
standards, we'll begin to see the real
improvement over the next 10 years."
THE AUTO industries, too, Gray
said, "are doing real well. We now have
some clean cars on the road."
In addition to testing alternative
fuels, the MVEL tests automobiles for
compliance with emission standards
and fuel economy.
THE LABORATORY does not test
every car model, according to Dick
Lawrence, chief of the testings branch
at the MVEL. "We just do the
questionable ones. Half of the cars we
never see," Lawrence said. The EPA
decides to test a car based on an
estimate of its failure to meet standar-
ds. Any fuel economy leaders are sure
to be called in for testing, he said.
Actual driving conditions are
simulated to produce the average
exhaust emissions from a car, the
gasoline vapors emitted on a hot day,
and' gas mileage. The Laboratory is
also beginning to test cold weather
emissions.
A DRIVER follows a printed
chart-representing an average
driving day-that tells when to speed
up, slow down, or stop the car. A
"Chassis cynamometer" simulates the
load that is placed on a car by the road-
itself, and the aerodynamic resistance
at different speeds.
The driver's job is none too easy,
Lawrence said. It is difficult because
the driver "doesn't have the feed back
of motion," he explained. If the driver
does not follow the chart exactly, the
test is scrapped and begun again; each
test must be exactly the same for all
cars, Lawrence said.
The miles-per-gallon figures released
by the EPA were "not intended at first"
t
i
t
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to become advertisement tools of the - ' ' '
industry, Lawrence said, but "were in- Doily Photo by PAUL ENGSTROM
tended to be a comparison." CHARLES GRAY, director of the Emission Control Division at the Ann Ar-
bor EPA lab, talks about alternative fuels.
EPA s future uncertain faced
with changes under Reagan
(Continued from Page3) Relaxation of emissions standards show 86 percent of the citizens strongly
t, which is basically what the ad- will result in a savings for the auto support not rolling back or relaxing
ministration wants to do." companies, Gray explained. regulation," Gray stated.
A "FAIR number" of congressmen THE COMPANIES "argue that they Both also agreed that the impact this
upport a strong Clean Air Act, Sax will have to sign contracts and make sentiment will have on congressional
aid. commitments" in order to comply with action is uncertain.
But, Gray said, "the auto industry, of standards that may eventually be GRAY SAID there is a "rumor" that
course, is hoping for some relaxation or changed by Congress, Gray said, ad- the administrative delay on the act is
roll-back of certain emissions standar- ding "They are concerned that delay of due to concern about the public's
ds." the act may delay their savings result." opinions.
The auto industry is also concerned However, he said, "when we ask Reagan's EPA appointments con-
about the delay in congressional action, them, 'are you going to be passing trast sharply to those made by past
Gray said. "The administration said along the savings to the conspmer?' administrations, Sax said. He com-
the package would be ready by the end they won't commit themselves to an pared the appointments to "a pacifist'
of June," he said. But "it looks unlikely answer." political party staffing the Defense
that the administration will send it up Both Gray and Sax said they believe Department. Their fundamental
(to Congress) before the session ad- there is strong citizen support for a'philosophy is unsympathetic with the
in.urne"I4-. h- toug n seA;-Atjn r irnr IWL. £LV ~ l~eIIL punin
journment. " tough Clean Air Act. "Recent polls
Daily Photoby PAUL ENGSTROM
THE EPA MOTOR Vehicle Emission Laboratory in Ann Aybor buys fuel and blends it in different concentrations for
testing purposes.
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