It’s official: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rescinded the 2009 endangerment finding, effectively overturning nearly two decades of vehicle emission regulations. This raises questions for the trucking industry and the path forward.
On February 12, President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin presented a final rule that invalidates a foundational document responsible for major vehicle emission policies dating back to 2010. Zeldin termed the action as “the single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history.”
“The Endangerment Finding has imposed 16 years of restrictions on consumer choices and resulted in trillions in hidden expenses for Americans,” Zeldin stated. “Often referred to as the ‘Holy Grail’ of the climate change movement, the Endangerment Finding is no more. The Trump administration is strictly adhering to the law, restoring common sense to governance, preserving consumer options, and promoting the American Dream.”
The repeal of the endangerment finding eliminates all federal greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles produced from 2012 onwards. This also removes the start-stop technology in many contemporary vehicles.
Industry stakeholders in trucking welcomed the new rule. Last August, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) informed the EPA that revoking the endangerment finding would put trucking “back on track.” OOIDA President Todd Spencer praised Zeldin for his “more feasible approach to emissions regulations,” noting that small-business truckers, who make up 96% of the industry, faced potential extinction due to prior EPA greenhouse gas rules.
Understanding the Endangerment Finding
To grasp the implications of the final rule, one must first understand the endangerment finding. In 1999, environmental advocates urged the EPA to regulate vehicle greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. The EPA initially denied the request in 2003, leading to legal challenges. By 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that greenhouse gases are classified as “air pollutants.” This opened the door for the EPA to regulate them, contingent on determining whether these emissions harm public health and welfare. The EPA’s endangerment finding, finalized in December 2009, became the legal basis for subsequent vehicle greenhouse gas regulations.
Impacts and Uncertainties
While the EPA’s final rule annuls significant vehicle emission regulations, it does not eliminate all existing standards, and legal challenges are anticipated. A pivotal rule under threat is the “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phases 3,” which mandates that by 2032, 25% of all sleeper cab tractors must be zero-direct-emission. The implications of withdrawing the endangerment finding on truck manufacturers’ designs remain unclear.
According to the EPA, the withdrawal will save taxpayers over $1.3 trillion in compliance expenses and allow motorists to save an average of $2,400 per vehicle. The agency claims that cheaper truck manufacturing will lower the cost of living across various products.
Future Challenges
Rescinding the endangerment finding will likely spark legal battles that may leave manufacturers in a state of uncertainty. California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the state will contest this decision in court to preserve public health and environmental justice. As the endangerment finding has withstood previous legal challenges, a renewed courtroom confrontation could extend for years, complicating manufacturers’ planning and production of future vehicles.
