A.M. Executive Briefing - May 17
This Morning's Headlines:
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Diesel Trucks, Buses Face Emission Curbs
The Clinton administration Wednesday is set to unveil proposed diesel-emissions rules that would mandate 97% cuts in sulfur levels and require catalytic converters and electronic emissions controls in new over-the-road trucks. The diesel sulfur levels would take effect in 2006, while the changes to trucks would begin the following year and be mandatory in new heavy trucks and buses by 2010.Public meetings are set for New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, and Los Angeles in the next 45 days.
On Tuesday, a Bliley aide repeated the claims made in Bliley's March committee report charging that the EPA has failed to enforce heavy-truck pollution rules; the aide further said the administration is simply trying to win environmentalists' favor for Vice President Gore with "empty rhetoric." Washington Post (05/17/00) P. E1; Brown, Warren
Oregon Voters Rebuff Measures in First All-Mail Vote Primary
The Oregon ballot initiative to change the state's fuel-tax system, criticized as being unfairly beneficial to trucks, was defeated by voters in the state's primary election Tuesday. It was one of many ballot measures that voters turned down in the election, which marked the first time a U.S. primary has been conducted by mail-in ballot. Associated Press (05/17/00); Cain, BradNationsWay Liquidation Plan OK'd by Creditors
The wage creditors and general unsecured creditors of NationsWay Transport, which filed for bankruptcy in 1999, have cast landslide votes in favor of acceptance of a creditors committee's liquidation plan.The employees' attorneys recommended that the plan, which will distribute $2.4 million to 3,500 employees who were put out of work, be adopted – even though, according to employee representatives, the company owed up to $12 million to workers.
The June confirmation hearing will see arguments on Bank of America's and Prudential Insurance's objections regarding the liquidation plan. Denver Post Online (05/17/00)
Missouri Narrows Options for I-70
Missouri has narrowed its list of strategies for dealing with the congested Interstate 70 down to three options, which will be examined in detail and aired in public hearings over the next two weeks.Some residents near the highway said they believe the state plans to take land to build a toll road rather than widen I-70; others said a freight rail line should be built across the state to reduce truck traffic, which makes up 30% of the highway's volume.
The highway is operating above its capacity and volume continues to increase, and it also has problems with substandard bridges and pavement. Kansas City Star (05/16/00) P. B1; Cronkleton, Robert A.
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