EPA Puts Brakes On California’s Truck Emission Rules, Calling It An ‘Illegal Power Grab’
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin criticizes California’s overreach, arguing the state’s proposed inspection and maintenance requirements violate the Commerce Clause and harm consumers.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to disapprove California’s latest attempt to regulate heavy-duty vehicles, specifically its Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) requirements for out-of-state and out-of-country trucks.
The EPA argues that this move, which seeks to apply California’s standards to any heavy-duty vehicle driven within its borders, is an unconstitutional “power grab.”
In a strong statement, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin asserted that California’s actions violate both the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause and Section 110 of the Clean Air Act.
“California was not, and has never been, duly elected by the American people to run our great country,” Zeldin said. He further claimed the state’s policies are part of an “extreme climate ideology” that drives up costs for American consumers who rely on truck drivers for goods.
The EPA’s disapproval also addresses concerns about California’s attempt to regulate foreign vehicles, stating that powers related to foreign affairs are exclusively vested in the federal government. The agency maintains that California’s approach is a “yet another attack on truck drivers and engine manufacturers” and threatens to eliminate affordable transportation options.
This proposal is open for a 30-day public comment period. It follows a series of recent conflicts between the federal government and California over vehicle emission standards. The U.S. Department of Justice recently filed complaints against the California Air Resources Board (CARB) regarding its “Clean Truck Partnership.”
Furthermore, Congress, with the backing of the Trump administration, recently used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to disapprove three of California’s emission waivers that had been granted under the previous administration. These waivers included the Advanced Clean Cars II, Advanced Clean Trucks, and Heavy-Duty Engine Omnibus NOx rules, which the administration claims would have raised costs and restricted consumer choice.
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