Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin holds a folder on the day U.S. President Donald Trump makes an announcement on the repeal of a scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health, removing the legal basis for federal climate regulations, at the White House in Washington D.C., Thursday. Reuters-Yonhap
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's repeal of the foundation for federal climate regulation will immediately free automakers from costly tailpipe emissions standards, but the move could spark lawsuits and force businesses to navigate an uncertain future of multiple state and regional rules.
Trump's Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday finalized its repeal of the "endangerment finding" for vehicles, a 2009 determination that greenhouse gas emissions endanger human health. The finding gave the agency authority to regulate emissions from vehicles, as well as other sectors that burn or produce fossil fuels. Trump said the country's "biggest deregulatory action" in history would save companies over $1 trillion in compliance costs. Environmental groups denounced the move, which was cheered by some industry groups but greeted with caution by others.
Ten lawyers and analysts interviewed by Reuters said companies face a bumpy ride, citing imminent court challenges and the possibility that a patchwork of state and regional emissions rules will replace one federal rule.
"This federal withdrawal will cause an unprecedented disruption to 15 years of regulatory progress, threatening public health, local communities, industries, natural resources, and public investments," said Rob Bonta, attorney general for the state of California, which is weighing a lawsuit. Matthew Leopold, an environmental attorney at Holland & Knight who had served as EPA general counsel during Trump's first administration, said company strategies for adjusting to the repeal will depend on how quickly legal challenges reach and are resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court. He said utilities and other big emitters will seek a clearer understanding of the implications.
"While this initial rulemaking is focused on motor vehicle regulation, it will have ripple effects on other EPA programs as well. It's the foundation of all EPA greenhouse gas regulation in all sectors," said Leopold.
The EPA has relied on the endangerment finding to regulate power plants, vehicle manufacturers and oil and gas operations. Transport and power make up about half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Trump has called climate change a "con job" and withdrawn the U.S., the world’s biggest historic emitter, from international efforts to combat it.
Trump's first administration did not seek to revisit the endangerment finding, as industry groups opposed the move and then-EPA Acting General Counsel David Fotouhi said the disruption was too risky. The EPA was bolder this time after Supreme Court cases such as Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo found Congress, not administrative agencies, should make that determination, the agency said in a press release on Thursday.
The EPA decision drew praise from some industry groups representing smaller oil and gas operators - the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Marcellus Shale Association. The trade group for companies that supply equipment for internal combustion engine vehicles called the Specialty Equipment Market Association, or SEMA, said it will "directly impact the range of new vehicle choices that exist in the coming years."
Source: Korea Times News
