There is no doubt that New York has an air quality problem, and that a large portion results from motor vehicles. We estimate that approximately half of the emissions that cause ground level ozone, and virtually all of the carbon monoxide in our air, come from mobile sources. New York has worked hard to address this problem, and we have made progress over the nearly three decades since the federal Clean Air Act was enacted, implementing every mobile source control strategy required by the Act and its subsequent Amendments, as well as several well beyond the requirements. These have included stringent emissions inspections for cars, vapor recovery systems at gas stations, and the California emissions standards for new cars. Last year, the Governor also signed legislation requiring emission inspections for diesel trucks and buses.
New York also limits the volatility of gasoline sold in the State, and our analysis indicates that this has been one of the most successful programs we have implemented in providing significant and immediate improvements in ambient air quality. This is because there was no waiting for new technology to penetrate the market and work its way into New York's fleet of vehicles. Additionally, all vehicles, young or old, well maintained or neglected, witnessed improved emissions performance as a result of the controls on gasoline volatility. Based on our review of EPA's proposed limits on sulfur in gasoline and the science supporting it, we feel it will likewise provide immediate benefits, and is a critical component of achieving further emission reductions from mobile sources.
Being from New York, I am painfully aware of the role sulfur in coal and fuel oil plays in the acidification of our lakes, rivers and forests. Governor Pataki has repeatedly urged EPA to meet its obligations in the Clean Air Act and protect sensitive regions like the Adirondacks from acid rain. -Yet high sulfur gasoline is perhaps doubly damaging to the environment. It directly results in emissions of extremely fine particulates and acidic aerosols that have been shown to lead to severe respiratory conditions and other ailments, and it strips catalytic converters of their ability to reduce emissions of other pollutants such as hydrocarbons, NOx, carbon monoxide and a host of tonics. EPA analysis has demonstrated that even a single tank full of high sulfur fuel can seriously degrade catalyst efficiency, and that this degradation may be irreversible under normal operating conditions. That's why adopting EPA's proposed sulfur limits on a national basis, rather than regionally, is so critical.
There are other reasons to support low sulfur limits nationwide. Unlike other potential changes to gasoline we could make, decreasing allowable levels of sulfur has no downside. Reducing levels of sulfur has no negative side effects on emissions, driveability, or durability of motor vehicles. It only reduces emissions of pollutants known to harm the environment and the people of this nation. Auto makers also say that it is essential to meeting the proposed new emission standards for automobiles. These vehicles will be federally certified using low sulfur fuel, and they should be operated on the same fuel.
Limiting fuel sulfur would also be a relatively inexpensive, painless, and transparent way to reduce air pollution in all the states that will be determined to be out of compliance with the new eight hour standard for ozone. For all these reasons, Europe, Canada and Japan have already taken steps to require low sulfur fuels, and it is essential that it be adopted here in the U.S. on a national basis.
As I mentioned earlier, New York State is working with the Metropolitan Transit Authority and other participants in a program to introduce new emission reduction technology to diesel-powered transit buses. This technology has already been installed on nearly four thousand buses in Europe, and been demonstrated to provide dramatic reductions in emissions. Yet, due to the high levels of sulfur in American diesel fuels, this technology has not been previously available for use in the U.S. Thankfully, a foresighted company was willing to provide the project with the low-sulfur fuel needed to perform the demonstration. We have every reason to believe that the technology will provide the same emission reductions achieved on similarly equipped buses in Europe, which have been shown to be as clean as buses powered by compressed natural gas at a fraction of the cost. Hopefully, fuel to operate these clean buses will be available after the demonstration project is completed.
Low sulfur fuel not only reduces exposure to harmful acidic aerosols and particulates, but it also enables the reduction of other pollutants. Catalyst and particulate trap technologies have advanced to the point where emissions from cars and trucks can be inexpensively reduced to a fraction of their current levels. Yet, without low sulfur fuels, these advanced technologies will only sit on the shelf collecting dust. We therefore strongly support EPA's proposal to reduce fuel sulfur. Thank you for the opportunity to present our strong support for EPA's proposed gasoline sulfur standards. The Department will be submitting more detailed comments before the hearing record closes. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have at this time.