Obama's NHTSA Nominee Draws Flack From Environmentalists For CAFE Stand

Obama's NHTSA Nominee Draws Flack From Environmentalists For CAFE Stand

Some environmentalists are worried that what the Obama administration had to say today about its nominee to run the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration isn't as important as what was left unsaid.

Charles Hurley, as the White House news release states, has served as chief executive officer of Mothers Against Drunk Driving since 2005. Earlier in his 30-year career, Hurley held senior leadership positions with the National Safety Council and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

There's also mention of an Obama connection. The release notes that the NHTSA nominee "was honored to work with then-State Senator Obama on his successful efforts in 2003 to strengthen Illinois' seat belt, teen driving, child passenger safety, and racial profiling laws."

So what's missing that has environmentalists grumbling?

Any mention of Hurley's opposition to tougher corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) regulations while serving as vice president of communications for the IIHS As head of the NHTSA, Hurley would play an integral role in drafting the administration's vehicle safety standards and CAFE rules.

"It would be unfortunate for someone with his hostility to CAFE to be in charge of implementing the strengthening of the program ordered by Congress" in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, said Wendy M. James, president of The Better World Group, Inc., a Burbank, Calif.-based firm that represents the interest of various environmental groups.

"While at IIHS, Hurley also opposed on-board gasoline vapor recovery, a key ozone reduction tool under the Clean Air Act," James said. "This combined with his opposition to CAFE bode poorly for the kind of cooperation that we will need between NHTSA and EPA as both work with California to implement new tailpipe and CAFE standards."

During the hours after his nomination, Hurley also drew praise for his work on drunk-driving issues. He also scored high marks from some highway safety advocates.

"Chuck is a passionate safety advocate whose career has been dedicated to reducing motor vehicle deaths and injuries on the highways," said Vernon F. Betkey, Jr., chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association. "By nominating Chuck, President Obama has demonstrated his administration's strong commitment to rid our nation of the tragic 40,000 deaths each year on our roadways."

But back to those pesky CAFE rules.

Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign, a Washington, D.C.-based group that wants higher fuel-economy standards, told the Wall Street Journal that "it would be awkward to have an administrator of NHTSA who's spent so much of his career attacking fuel economy standards that NHTSA administers."

The Obama administration recently issued new average fuel economy rules for 2011 model-year cars and trucks, calling for an overall CAFE of 27.3 miles per gallon.

The rules also dropped language (inserted in the waning months of the Bush administration) that would have kept California from adopting its own greenhouse gas emissions regulations, as well as prohibit and other states (13 have signed up to do so) from following California's lead.

The new, interim CAFE regulations represent an 8 percent, or 2 mpg, increase over the present standard. That's not as high as many wanted it to be, but the changes are the first in a series of CAFE adjustments we'll be seeing over the next few years.

The Obama administration has signaled that it is willing - and likely - to push the federal fuel economy standard well beyond the 35 miles per gallon minimum goal Congress has set for the 2020 model year.

There will be heavy pressure from financially troubled automakers for an industry-friendly CAFE revision. The Bush Administration said as much shortly before leaving office when it opted to leave a key decision on CAFE regulations to Obama's team.

In a statement, the Bush administration said "the recent financial difficulties of the automobile industry will require the next administration to conduct a thorough review of matters affecting the industry, including how to effectively implement" a new energy law requiring tougher standards.

What's clear is that CAFE regulations work. The Department of Transportation is estimating that the new CAFE standards for the 2011 model year will save 887 million gallons of fuel with a resulting cut in carbon dioxide emissions of 8.3 million metric tons.

The administration will have to ensure that its top transportation officials have their eyes on that bottom line -- as well as the troubled automobile industry's financial bottom line.

Greg Johnson, Contributor

Greg Johnson: