Gordon Duffy, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board and the Governor's Secretary of Environmental Affairs, today released the following statement concerning the Environmental Protection Agency's announced restrictions on the lead levels in gasoline: 

"We are pleased that the EPA has tollowed both the example and recommendation of the Air Resources Board in lowering the allowable lead levels in gasoline. 

"Over the last 8 years, the Air Resources Board has led the nation in cutting the amount of lead in gasoline and, as a result, California refiners have been taking lead out of gasoline at a faster rate than refiners in the rest of the country.

"The Air Resources Board's 8-year phase down of lead in gasoline has cut the concentrations of lead that people breathe by 70 to 80 percent and dropped the amount of lead used by California refiners from 17,000 tons per year to less than 3,900 tons. We recommenced that EPA adopt these standards and 
believe that EPA's action will complement the Air Resources Board's efforts over the last 8 years to lower the lead in gasoline and reduce the public health threat that lead poses."

(Editor's Note: California's current standard limits lead to 0.8 gram per gallon, down from a high ot 3.5 grams before the regulation was adopted.)