The US Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said they had taken an initial step towards finalising the proposed Safer, Affordable, Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule by issuing a final action entitled the One National Program Rule which will enable the federal government to provide nationwide uniform fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards for automobiles and light duty trucks.
In other words, as President Donald Trump has promised, to repeal California's ability to set its own emissions standards, which it has done since the 1970s.
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"President Trump promised the American people that his administration would address and correct the current fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards, and… his administration is taking steps to fulfill this promise," a statement issued by the EPA said.
The EPA said the proposed new SAFE Vehicles Rule standards would "establish attainable fuel economy and GHG vehicle emissions standards that will help ensure that more Americans have access to safer, more affordable, and cleaner vehicles that meet their families' needs".
The SAFE rule's standards are projected to save the nation billions of dollars and strengthen the US domestic manufacturing base by adding millions of new car sales. Most importantly, because newer cars are safer than ever before, the new standards are projected to save thousands of lives and prevent tens of thousands of Americans from being hospitalised by car crashes.
"Today's action meets President Trump's commitment to establish uniform fuel economy standards for vehicles across the United States, ensuring that no state has the authority to opt out of the nation's rules, and no state has the right to impose its policies on the rest of the country," said secretary of transportation Elaine Chao.
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By GlobalData"Today, we are delivering on a critical element of [Trump's] commitment to address and fix the current fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards," said EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler.
"One national standard provides much-needed regulatory certainty for the automotive industry and sets the stage for the [administration's] final SAFE rule that will save lives and promote economic growth by reducing the price of new vehicles to help more Americans purchase newer, cleaner, and safer cars and trucks."
The EPA said the action finalises critical parts of the SAFE Vehicles Rule that was first proposed on 2 August, 2018.
"This action brings much-needed certainty to consumers and industry by making it clear that federal law preempts state and local tailpipe greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards as well as zero emission vehicle (ZEV) mandates.
"Specifically, in this action, NHTSA is affirming that its statutory authority to set nationally applicable fuel economy standards under the express preemption provisions of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act dictates that such state and local programs are preempted.
The EPA said it was withdrawing the Clean Air Act preemption waiver granted to California in January 2013 as it relates to California's GHG and ZEV programmes.
California's ability to enforce its Low Emission Vehicle program and other clean air standards to address harmful smog-forming vehicle emissions is not affected by the action, the EPA said in its statement.
"This action will help ensure that there will be one, and only one, set of national fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles. The agencies continue to work together to finalise the remaining portions of the SAFE Vehicles Rule, to address proposed revisions to the federal fuel economy and GHG vehicle emissions standards," the EPA said in its statement.
From implementation, only the federal government may set fuel economy standards, and state and local governments may not establish their own separate fuel economy standards. This includes state laws that substantially affect fuel economy standards (such as tailpipe GHG emissions standards and ZEV mandates).
In addition, EPA is withdrawing the 2013 Clean Air Act waiver that authorised California to pursue its own tailpipe greenhouse gas emission standard (fuel economy standard) and ZEV mandate. As a result, these two programmes are also prohibited by the Clean Air Act.
The EPA added: "Moving forward, California must continue to enforce its programs to address smog and other forms of traditional air pollution caused by motor vehicles. The state must redouble its efforts to address the worst air quality in the United States and finally achieve compliance with EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards, where for decades it has failed to address serious, severe, and extreme non-compliance status in several areas within the state."
According to thedetroitbureau.com, administration officials also said, at a news conference, they hoped automakers, as well as California regulators, would support the changes. If not, they said they hoped that, by separating actions on fuel economy rules and the California waiver would make it quicker and easier to fend off the anticipated legal challenges.
President Donald Trump had long promised to roll back the federal fuel economy standards set under the Obama administration and, in the process, eliminate the waiver given to California that allowed it to set even tougher guidelines, thedetroitbureau.com noted, adding the mandate set by regulators at the California Air Resource Board (CARB) had now been adopted by 13 other states, as well as the District of Columbia, and cover about a third of American car buyers.
Transportation secretary Elaine Chao said the new fuel economy rules would deliver safety and cost savings for consumers once in effect.
Referencing to the acronym for the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, "CAFE does not mean California Assumes Federal Empowerment," said Wheeler, adding that the administration believes one uniform standard is needed for the entire country.
According to thedetroitbureau.com, the EPA chief stressed the move to block California from setting greenhouse gas standards would not impact its ability to regulate other pollutants, such as ozone, adding that, "We hope the state will focus on these issues rather than trying to set fuel economy standards for the rest of the country."
