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ELECTRIC VEHICLES
oxides of nitrogen which, in turn, through photochemical reduction,
produce injurious aerosols and smogs.
Now if this is in fact the case, it leads to the disturbing conclusion
that what we are doing is making things worse in Los Angeles rather
than better. I don't say that this is so, but it does, at least, admit of
that possibility.
By the same token I am told-and testimony seems to bear it outthat in the New York area the situation is entirely different, that the
oxides of nitrogen probably play a, small or maybe an even insignificant part in the total level of pollutants in the atmosphere.
The point I have reached for and the point I would like your response to, is the necessity for realizing that air pollution from automotive sources is not uniform in its components, and that it may well
require different techniques in different areas to meet and overcome
the problem. Would you agree with this general assertion.
Mr. DUNLOP. I think basically that is correct, that various areas
have different problems. When you are dealing with stationary facilities it is not as difficult to modify or to build those facilities in relation to the specific problem. But the automobile, being mobile in nature and moving from area to area, you do have an entirely different
problem in that regard. I think this is an area in which the Federal
Government has to take the basic responsibility in terms of what the
standards should be.
Senator BAKER. Would you agree with me that in taking the
primary responsibility-which I think it should-the Federal Government should not preempt the entire field so as to make it impossible for areas such as Los Angeles to have different and supplementary
requirements?
Mr. DUNLOP. I certainly agree with you. You refer, commenting
further on the statement- which you made, you comment in connection with the oxides of nitrogen. This is an area that needs a lot of
further research to see if, having cured the one problem, you haven'tprobably induced an even greater problem. This is where I hope the
research work currently being done, both in the automobile industry
and in our industry, will make it possible for Government to come
up with an intelligent set of standards, and that will recognize the
varying conditions that exist in the different geographical areas of
the United States.
Senator BAKER. I am also told, Mr. Dunlop, that control of oxides
of nitrogen may be amenable to variations in fuel more readily than
the control of unburned hydrocarbons. So it occurs to me that it might
be entirely possible to blend a gasoline that would be more suitable
for use in Los Angeles than it is in New York and vice versa.
Mr. DUNLOP. This is not an uncommon situation. Various companies
do produce gasolines that have individualized specifications for geographical areas.
Senator BAKER. For climatic considerations.
Mr. DUNLOP. Yes. For the season of the year, for the altitude, the
varying circumstances that exist in a particular area of the United
States. I would think we would be very clearly responsive to what
would be the desirable situation in any specified area.
Senator BAKER. Do you view this matter of the ultimate control of
pollution from automotive sources as a joint effort of the fuel industry
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