The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday officially released a proposal to rescind the 2009 regulation which determined that planet warming greenhouse gases threaten public health and paved the way for electric vehicle mandates.
At an auto dealership in Indiana, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said EPA is proposing a repeal of the agency’s so-called Endangerment Finding, issued during the Obama administration, which has been used to justify over $1 trillion in climate-related regulations, including EV mandates.
If finalized, the regulation would repeal all resulting greenhouse gas emissions for motor vehicles and engines, thereby giving consumers more affordable options for the cars they buy, the EPA announcement said. The proposal also would remove all greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and heavy-duty engines.
Zeldin was joined at the news conference by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, the American Motor Truck Association and various other state and federal officials.
“This electric-truck mandate “put the trucking industry on a path to economic ruin and would have crippled our supply chain, disrupted deliveries, and raised prices for American families and businesses,” said American Motor Truck Association President & CEO Chris Spear. “Moreover, it kicked innovation to the curb by discarding available technologies that can further drive down emissions at a fraction of the cost.
“The trucking industry supports cleaner, more efficient technologies, but we need policies rooted in real-world conditions,” Spear said. “We thank the Trump administration for returning us to a path of common sense, so that we can keep delivering for the American people as we continue to reduce our environmental impact.”
The Endangerment Finding is the legal prerequisite used by the Obama and Biden administrations to regulate emissions from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines. Absent this finding, EPA would lack statutory authority under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to prescribe standards for greenhouse gas emissions.
“With this proposal, the Trump EPA is proposing to end 16 years of uncertainty for automakers and American consumers,” Zeldin said. “If finalized, rescinding the Endangerment Finding and resulting regulations would end $1 trillion or more in hidden taxes on American businesses and families.”
Prior to the official announcement in Indiana, Zeldin appeared on the conservative podcast “Reckless,” where he said the repeal of the endangerment finding would be the “largest deregulatory action in the history of America.”
EPA will initiate a public comment period to solicit input. Further information on the public comment process and instructions for participation will be published in the Federal Register and on the EPA website.
