On the Dash:
- The rule eliminates federal greenhouse gas compliance requirements for motor vehicles while leaving NHTSA fuel economy standards in place.
- The EPA projects more than $2,400 in savings for new cars and trucks and more than $1.3 trillion overall.
- Legal and political challenges could prolong regulatory uncertainty, affecting EV strategy and long-term inventory planning.
Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Administrator Lee Zeldin, alleging that the agency’s decision to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding is illegal and dangerous.
In their complaint, the plaintiffs argue that eliminating the finding will lead to more pollution, higher costs, and thousands of avoidable deaths. Peter Zalzal, distinguished counsel and associate vice president of clean air strategies at the Environmental Defense Fund, said in a statement that the action disregards scientific evidence and conflicts with the EPA’s responsibility to protect the public from harmful pollution.
Other plaintiffs include the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Clean Air Council, the American Lung Association, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The 2009 endangerment finding followed the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Massachusetts v. EPA and provided the legal basis for federal climate regulations limiting power plant emissions and tightening vehicle fuel-economy standards.
The EPA’s final rule rescinds the endangerment finding and removes requirements to measure, report, certify and comply with federal greenhouse gas emission standards for motor vehicles, as well as coal-fired and natural gas power plants. It also repeals associated compliance programs, credit provisions, and reporting obligations.
The agency said it will continue regulating pollutants such as nitrous oxides and ozone. The changes do not affect the fuel efficiency standards administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under the Energy Policy Conservation Act, according to a Jefferies report.
The EPA said the Obama administration relied on the endangerment finding to justify trillions of dollars in regulations and an “illegal” push toward electric vehicle mandates and compliance requirements that increased vehicle costs. The agency said rescinding the finding will save taxpayers more than $1.3 trillion, including more than $2,400 per new car and truck, while promoting consumer choice.
The EPA said it reevaluated the finding’s legality in light of recent Supreme Court decisions and concluded that Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act does not provide statutory authority to regulate motor vehicle emissions in the manner previously used to address global climate change.
