Bryan will push for more efficient fuel consumption

Benjamin Grove

Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999 | 10:41 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Richard Bryan is going to battle with the auto industry again over gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles.

Bryan, D-Nev., who for several years has led unsuccessful attempts to push for higher fuel efficiency standards in cars and trucks, on Monday outlined his plan for yet another attempt.

Bryan believes the standard, set at 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and 20.7 miles per gallon for light trucks, including popular SUVs, should be studied. The standards were set in 1975.

"We are convinced that the justification is there to increase the standards," Bryan said.

The House in June passed a transportation spending bill for the fifth straight year that prohibits the government from analyzing the standards. The auto industry strongly opposes making the standards more strict.

But Bryan and 30 other senators plan to challenge that. Bryan, along with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., is leading the charge to introduce an amendment to the transportation bill that would authorize a new study. At least 37 senators have said they would oppose the amendment.

"What the auto industry is saying is that 'we don't even want anyone to take a look at this, period.' That, to me, seems to be an indefensible position," Bryan said.

Bryan said the legislation is important because of the proliferation of SUVs, which has led to Americans using more and more gasoline. Bryan is expected to offer the amendment as early as this week.

Bryan made his announcement in conjunction with the release of the results of a new poll conducted for the World Wildlife Fund. Two-thirds of the 800 SUV owners polled said they would be willing to pay $400 or more for an SUV that met the same gas mileage and emissions standards as passenger cars.