Check the e-mail addresses below. We need to write letters to these people. Rick Krost, President of U.S. Choppers, wrote the letter below. We need to get across to these people. Check out what Rick wrote, then drop your own e-mail to the agencies listed.
MC-cert@epa.gov, omscfeis@epa.gov, otaqpublicweb@epa.gov,catcmail@epa.gov, emc@epa.gov, info.chief@epa.gov,environmental-justice-epa@epa.gov, nelson.peg@epa.gov, ppic@epa.gov,brown.karen@epa.gov, eibweb@arb.ca.gov, helpline@arb.ca.gov
To whom it may concern,
I am writing this letter with regard to the enforcement of new motorcycle emissions laws coming in to effect in a few short days.
I believe in the EPA and it's purpose, however occasionally I do not understand the methodology employed by the agency.
Briefly, I would like to provide you a backdrop. We are an American family who can provide proof of our existence in America going back to our founding days. We (our family) have fought the wars and supported this great nation in every way possible. We will continue to do so until our rights are entirely stripped away. Currently, we feel that we are being pushed to the edge.
Personally, I have sold my stock brokerage practice 2 years ago (I owned and operated a branch office of Raymond James Financial (RJF – NYSE)) in an attempt to pursue a long standing dream; to own/ operate an after-market Harley parts company. Over the last 2 years I have developed 2 complete proprietary rolling chassis kits. This came at incredible expense both in time and monetary assessment. A large portion of my families retirement funds went toward this venture and we have the families future at stake. The current course of these laws will destroy our business and our future.
In comes the EPA and CARB with the most preposterous solution to keep our air clean. By the EPA's own studies motorcycle pollutants are accountable for LESS THAN ONE PERCENT of all mobile source emissions. With this in mind, the EPA has put forth guidelines which are so stringent that it will (through enforcement) virtually eliminate an entire sub-sector of our economy if implemented. I hold a degree in business from CSULB (emphasis finance/economics) and have been in the finance industry professionally for 7 years. When I culminate my years of experience and sum total of my knowledge, I cannot find a reason other than of a political nature to implement this law. Considering the net pollutants produced by on-highway motorcycles, the net effect of enforcing such a law is negligible at best; if having any effect at all.
However the cost to implement this law throughout the system will be great. Even the OMB has recognized this in their correspondence to your agency. I understand that your agency needs appropriated dollars to justify it's existence, however as a tax paying citizen, I would like to see my hard earned dollars going to better use. There are much larger fish to fry- I know you know what I am talking about…. lets talk about pollution credits with large factories. I could debate this one for hours. However when I look and realize that we are talking in terms of units by the TONS OF EMISSIONS per year for each factory in comparison to what motorcycles put out per capita ….. somehow everything gets lost in the translation.
It is widely known that the constitutionality of the EPA is at question in perpetuity and we all know that the agency is ridiculed for it's timeliness or lack thereof with regard to political influences. I am not here to “brow beat” you. I would simply like to hear a credible explanation and concrete apple to apple comparison of the net proposed effect versus cost to tax payers and industry impact as well as the impact to our sector of the economy if these laws are enforced.
I feel that a feasibility study should ensue entailing cost figures to implement versus other category pollutants which have a much more severe impact on our environment. Do we have a dollar for dollar comparative analysis to justify these new standards and the cost to implement them?
Also I would like to hear an explanation on the constitutional nature of an environmental agency determining what type and quantity of motorcycle an individual can own. I do not understand how an agency of our Government can enforce a law which states that if a husband dies shortly after buying his one “lifetime exempt” motorcycle that his spouse cannot sell it for five years to settle her estate! Considering a custom motorcycle sells for anywhere between $20,000 and $250,000, I would suspect that the proceeds from this might help the bereaved spouse. Furthermore is there a marketplace for this motorcycle anymore considering the strict guidelines associated with it? Thus it creates even more economic hardship.
I understand that Harley-Davidson is under shareholder lawsuit for lowering their production numbers. This law would help their company by eliminating any implied competition. Can you provide an audit of any of Harley- Davidson's input with regards to any forms of verse or remuneration in the discussion of implementing these laws? In 1962, Alan Greenspan wrote that antitrust was: a world in which competition is lauded as the basic axiom and guiding principle, yet “too much” competition is condemned as “cutthroat.” It is a world in which actions designed to limit competition are branded as criminal when taken by businessmen, yet praised as “enlightened” when taken by the government. It is a world in which the law is so vague that businessmen have no way of knowing whether specific actions will be declared illegal until they hear the judge’s verdict–after the fact.
The OMB is supposed to police activities such as this and it is questionable as to where the influence for this act is coming from. One thing is for certain, Harley maintains the largest market share in our category. If these laws go through, the EPA will have direct influence in forming a monopoly out of Harley-Davidson which is in direct conflict with the Sherman Antitrust Act. The OMB will receive a faxed copy of this letter.
Please take heed to these words as I represent America. Americans ride Harley-Davidsons and custom bikes for sport more than transportation. We can relate to the American heritage behind Harleys and the freedom that they represent. This is an icon of American culture not merely a mode of transportation. When a governmental agency steps in to take away a piece of our freedom and liberty for no known positive net effect other than to strip our freedom and cost us more tax payer dollars, we will all lose. People will find themselves unmotivated to work and excel merely to hand over their earnings to have more of their personal rights stripped away by the same dollars they worked so hard for.
We here at U.S. Choppers have to defend the rights of our brothers and sisters who are motorcycle enthusiasts. We would be more than happy to propose other alternatives to enhance air quality among the motorcycle community. A more direct approach would be welcomed in the community. For example EPA approved motors. The consumers and industry would gladly floor the cost of a compliant motor standard.
If the motors are compliant (and not needing constant compliance tests (to save tax payer dollars)), then I see no need for any further interpretation of the law with regards to any other components on the motorcycle or different registration or ownership guidelines or infringements to ownership (which would provide more taxpayer savings). The onus of responsibility would lie with the motor manufacturers and the cost of re-tooling and certifying would be passed to the consumer. Providing the engines weren't drastically modified, they would stay within the recognized and accepted limits of emission standards.
One more thought- when a compliant motor has prolonged use, how do you enforce the higher level of pollutants produced (ie, this law leads to a slippery slope argument …. the more an engine is used the more pollutants it produces… do you then outlaw every motor that has been used for a specified period of time? And what then happens to enforcement of engines that are ridden harder? What about those barely ridden?) ….for these reasons, the EPA should focus on a more direct solution. This would save incredible costs to taxpayers, and virtually no time to implement as the DMV need not concern themselves with new registration procedures and the agencies need not worry about enforcement.
The motor manufacturers would carry the burden for the entire industry and motorcycle riding populous. How about taking the extra tax payer savings in appropriations to you and offering them to the motor manufacturers as incentive programs to re-engineer their motors?
We at U.S. Choppers are featured in 5 mainstream magazines currently all over the World. At this point we are re-vamping our website to include a section to keep enthusiasts up to date with current EPA concerns. We will be placing an online petition for enthusiasts to voice their opinion about the pending laws. We will be happy to forward these letters of concern to your agency in hopes to find a commonplace solution which will benefit all of our concerns.
Respectfully.
–Rick Krost
U.S. Choppers
2039 S. Lyon St
Santa Ana, CA 92705
714-546-4699
http://www.uschopper.com/
