There have been a few things happening on the emissions front, and we will cover them here:
First up, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nixed the requirement for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sensors. DEF’s purpose is to reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions. The agency did not alter the NOx emission standards. They removed the requirement for the sensor, which is frequently faulty and shuts down the truck. Instead, the EPA encourages truck manufacturers to adopt technologies that monitor NOx emissions.
Next, Rep. Mike Collins (R-Georgia) introduced “The Diesel Truck Liberation Act,” a bill that would strip the EPA of its authority to regulate truck emissions. It would stop federal agencies from requiring emission control devices, remove EPA authority to enforce the Clean Air Act’s vehicle emissions requirements, protect individuals from prosecution related to tampering with emissions equipment and codify deregulation to prevent future administrations from reinstating mandates.
And, the EPA is being sued by twenty-four states, the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands, and twelve cities and counties as a result of the agency rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which gave the EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gases (GHG).
Lastly, the Department of Justice (DOJ), on behalf of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), initiated another lawsuit against California for the state’s continued efforts to regulate GHGs. California vows to fight on.