EPA Drafting Greenhouse Gas Standards for Trucks

Date: April 26, 2010

Source: News Room

EPA is said to be working on a draft rule to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from medium- and heavy-duty trucks in unison with the Department of Transportation (DOT) that could merge into a combined rulemaking. EPA is expected to take the lead on what could end up being a single standard. The trucking industry is publicly opposed to EPA's attempts to regulate the sector, arguing that because DOT better understands its issues, it should retain its explicit authority as granted by the 2007 energy law. However, EPA cites its authority from the Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA and section 202 of the Clean Air Act granting it authority to regulate GHGs.

However, not all industry is opposed to EPA rules. Six CEOs from major trucking and transportation companies, including Waste Management and Cummins Engine Co., are drafting a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and DOT Secretary Roy LaHood backing the pending EPA rulemaking. The industry would much prefer a joint EPA and DOT rule than two separate rulemakings. A recent report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) mandated by the 2007 energy law, supports efforts to improve truck fuel economy of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles, and recommends advanced diesel engines, improved aerodynamics, hybrid power-trains and other measures, but cautions that the wide variety of vehicles in the category will make it much more difficult to regulate their fuel economy than that of passenger cars.

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