California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 112

Introduced by Assembly Member Hadley

January 7, 2016

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 112—Relative to the State Air Resources Board.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 112, as introduced, Hadley. State Air Resources Board.

This measure would thank the State Air Resources Board for its exemplary work and tenacity in uncovering the emissions control defeat devices on certain diesel-fueled Volkswagen motor vehicles.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, The Legislature established the State Air Resources
Board in 1967 to attain and maintain healthy air quality; and

WHEREAS, A May 2014 study by researchers at West Virginia
University, done in collaboration with the International Council
on Clean Transportation, discovered that two Volkswagen
diesel-fueled motor vehicles emitted significantly higher levels of
nitrogen oxides in onroad tests than in standard emissions tests;
and

WHEREAS, Nitrogen oxide emissions have been linked to smog
and acid rain; and

WHEREAS, The concerns raised by the study prompted the
State Air Resources Board to open an investigation and discussions
with Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) in 2014; and

WHEREAS, In December 2014, Volkswagen issued a voluntary
recall in the United States of all of its diesel-fueled motor vehicles
from model years 2009 to 2014 after conducting its own tests and
identifying a recalibration fix; and

WHEREAS, The State Air Resources Board, in cooperation
with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, said it
wanted to do confirmatory tests of the tests Volkswagen ran in
2014, and the State Air Resources Board did so in May 2015; and

WHEREAS, The State Air Resources Board notified
Volkswagen in July 2015 that the test vehicles, despite having
completed the recalibration fix under the voluntary recall, still
showed emissions that exceeded state and federal limits, and the
State Air Resources Board deemed the initial recall ineffective;
and

WHEREAS, In September 2015, the United States
Environmental Protection Agency and the State Air Resources
Board demanded an explanation from Volkswagen and were
prepared to withhold certification that Volkswagen’s 2016
diesel-fueled motor vehicles complied with applicable emissions
standards; and

WHEREAS, Volkswagen admitted defeat devices were installed
on the emissions control equipment on certain Volkswagen
diesel-fueled motor vehicles; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature acknowledges and praises
the State Air Resources Board for its unwavering diligence and
dedication to preserving the air quality in the state and its exposure
of Volkswagen’s circumvention of emissions standards on certain
diesel-fueled motor vehicles; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature thanks the State Air Resources
Board for its exemplary work and tenacity in uncovering
Volkswagen’s emissions control defeat devices; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit
sufficient copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate
distribution.