Q: What criteria did EPA use to grant the waiver? Well the Clean Air Act is very clear, we used a plain language reading of the Clean Air Act. And it’s important to understand that what the Clean Air Act says is that California shall – no choice about it – shall be granted the waiver unless – and there are three conditions: Unless California was arbitrary and capricious in setting its standards with respect to the protection of public health and welfare. Number two, unless California does not need such standards to meet compelling and extraordinary conditions. Or number three, unless California has proposed standards that aren’t consistent with Section 202 of the Clean Air Act. In each one of those analyses EPA determined that those findings were not met. Therefore it granted the waiver. Q: How is today's waiver grant related to the agreement announced by the President on May 19, 2009? Well on May 19th, 2009 the President announced national greenhouse gas emission and fuel economy standards – those are for our entire country – but he also envisioned an important role for California and the other thirteen states that have followed California in adopting California’s standards. EPA will now follow through on its rulemaking commitments to adopt a national greenhouse gas control program working side by side with the Department of Transportation. And the good news there is that California has publicly committed, in writing, to allow automakers who show compliance with the national program to also be deemed in compliance with California’s State requirements. So now we have a truly national program. Q: Today's decision not only grants California its waiver but also allows 13 other states and the District of Columbia to enforce the same standards. Doesn't that create a "patchwork" of standards? Well EPA received many comments on exactly that issue. It’s important to know that legally, the section of the Clean Air Act that allows other states to adopt California’s standards is separate from the waiver decision that we made today. Therefore, EPA can’t deny a waiver based on the fact that other states will soon adopt it. What we can say is that the President envisioned that patchwork and didn’t want to see it happen. So that’s the significance of the agreement that was reached, that we would avoid a patchwork of standards by having a national standard program that kicks in from 2012 to 2016. Q: Any additional thoughts? This decision puts the law and science first. After review of the scientific findings and another comprehensive round of public engagement, I've decided this is the appropriate course under the law. This waiver is consistent with the Clean Air Act as it's been used for the last forty years; and the waiver supports the prerogatives of the 13 states and the District of Columbia who've already opted to follow California's lead. More importantly, this decision reinforces the historic agreement on nationwide emissions standards developed by a broad coalition of industry, government, and environmental stakeholders earlier this year.