This bill disapproves and nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3" rule.
Russ Fulcher
Representative
ID-1
This bill nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency's "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles-Phase 3." By disapproving the rule, the bill prevents the EPA from enforcing stricter emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles.
New Bill Nixes EPA's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emission Rules: Phase 3 Standards Scrapped
This bill straight-up disapproves the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) rule for "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles—Phase 3." Published on March 29, 2024 (89 Fed. Reg. 29440), this EPA rule aimed to tighten emissions controls on heavy-duty trucks. By using the Congressional Review Act, this bill effectively kills the rule, meaning those stricter standards won't go into effect.
Smog Check Showdown
The now-defunct EPA rule was all about setting tougher limits on greenhouse gases from big rigs and other heavy-duty vehicles. Think delivery trucks, construction vehicles, and those massive 18-wheelers. The goal? To push for cleaner trucks and reduce the pollution they pump out. This bill throws a wrench in that plan, potentially keeping emissions higher than they would have been under the EPA's standards.
Roadblocks and Potholes
So, what happens now? Without these new EPA standards, manufacturers could stick with older, less efficient engine designs for longer. For example, a trucking company that planned to upgrade its fleet with cleaner models to meet the Phase 3 standards might now hold off. This could mean more pollution in the air, especially in areas with heavy truck traffic, like near highways or industrial zones. This impacts everyone from a delivery driver working long shifts on the road to a family living near a major trucking route. While killing the rule might save some businesses money in the short term, the long-term effects could mean dirtier air and slower progress on cleaner transportation tech.
The Big Picture
This move fits into a larger pattern of pushback against environmental regulations. It is important to know that existing laws, like the Clean Air Act, still apply, but this bill prevents further tightening of standards specifically for heavy-duty vehicles. Basically, it taps the brakes on accelerating cleaner truck technology, potentially leaving us with more pollution for longer than we might have had otherwise.