The 2009 Endangerment Finding identified Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions as a risk to public health. Once identified as such, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Clean Air Act, is authorized to regulate GHG emissions from power plants, trucks, cars, aircraft, landfills, energy producers and others.
This week, the EPA issued a proposal to rescind the Endangerment Finding citing “updated scientific data that challenges the assumptions” of the 2009 study as well as exceeding the authority approved by Congress.
As it was the underpinning justification for all GHG regulations on heavy-duty trucks, those rules are now on the chopping block as well, including the transition to zero emission (ZEV) trucks starting in 2032.
The proposal to rescind the Endangerment Finding will go through a lengthy comment period spearheaded by the EPA. It is also expected to face litigation by environmental groups.
It is going to be years before it all shakes out.
OUT FOR A SPIN
The Port of Oakland took an important step forward last month when the commissioners approved the final environmental impact report for the Turning Basin Widening Project.
Widening the turning basin is a vital project for the future of the port and its ability to handle the ever-larger vessels.
SMALL POTATOES
In other tariff news, President Trump signed an Executive Order doing away with the de minimus exception, which allowed shipments valued at $800 or less to enter the US tariff free…think Shein or Temu.