Northeastern States Tighten Car-Exhaust Rules

MASSACHUSETTS is joining eight Northeastern states that plan to adopt California's strict automobile pollution rules for new cars beginning in 1993. ``We're sending a message to the US Congress and to the Northeast congressional delegation that the President's clean-air act doesn't go far enough and this is where they should take it,'' said state environmental secretary John DeVillars.

Mr. DeVillars said President Bush's clean-air message ``is especially weak in the auto emissions area. The auto industry walked away from the bargaining table on the President's proposal with a sweetheart deal.''

The Bay State joins the rest of New England, New York, and New Jersey in adopting the tougher emissions standards.

Under federal law, states that want rules against auto pollution stronger than the federal government's must adopt the California regulations. Officials said the new controls will add about $150 to the price of a new car.

The California pollution standards must be met by automobiles for the first 100,000 miles of travel. The Bush clean-air proposal calls for certifying cars for the first 50,000 miles.