EPA to Repeal Numerous Climate Regulations, Including Electric Vehicle Policy
Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced that the EPA will reassess 31 regulations, marking what he describes as the most significant day of deregulation in American history.
On March 12, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin declared what he views as the “largest deregulatory announcement in U.S. history.”
In a video released by the agency, he stated that the EPA will initiate steps to roll back 31 regulations, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s promise to “unleash American energy, revitalize our auto industry, restore the rule of law, and return authority to the states.”
Zeldin’s announcement foreshadows official actions to eliminate EPA regulations encouraging Americans to purchase low-emission electric vehicles, as well as other major initiatives aimed at repealing numerous existing federal climate and pollution standards.
On March 12, the EPA released multiple statements highlighting its impending actions regarding regulatory rules or suites of rules originally designed by the agency during the tenures of former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, which the agency now views as the source of “trillions in regulatory costs.”
The specific actions to be taken and the timeline for revising or repealing the 31 identified regulations remain unclear. Representatives from the agency did not promptly respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times for further clarification.
In a statement, Zeldin asserted, “We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion to lower the cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, revive auto jobs in the U.S., and more.”
Endangerment Finding
The EPA and the Office of Management and Budget plan to reassess the landmark 2009 Endangerment Finding, along with all associated regulations and actions that depend on it.
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In 2009, prior EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson authorized two actions related to greenhouse gases and the Clean Air Act. These actions determined that the “six key well-mixed greenhouse gases” pose a threat to public health and welfare for present and future generations, with motor vehicle emissions contributing to greenhouse gas pollution.
The EPA noted that these actions are crucial because they underpin the “implementation of greenhouse gas emissions standards for vehicles and other sectors.”
“The Trump Administration will not compromise national prosperity, energy security, or our citizens’ freedoms for an agenda that stifles our industries, affects mobility, and limits consumer choice while benefiting foreign adversaries,” Zeldin reiterated in a March 12 statement on the reconsideration.
The agency also indicated that “EPA has subsequently relied on the Endangerment Finding to justify seven vehicle regulations, amounting to over one trillion dollars in costs, according to its own regulatory impact analyses.”
Emissions venting from a large stack at the coal-fired Brandon Shores Power Plant in Baltimore on March 9, 2018. Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Electric Vehicles
Following through on a campaign promise and executive order made by Trump, the EPA has announced its intention to reassess the Model Year 2027 and Later Light-Duty and Medium-Duty Vehicles regulation, along with the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles and “other elements of the Biden EPA’s controversial ‘Clean Trucks Plan.’” This move will also affect the 2022 Heavy-Duty Nitrous Oxide regulations, as stated.
According to the statement, these rules laid the groundwork for the “Biden–Harris electric vehicle mandate, which restricts Americans’ ability to select a safe and affordable car for their families and exacerbates the cost of living for all products delivered by trucks.”
As previously reported by The Epoch Times, the American auto industry has begun investing heavily in the design and production of electric vehicles (EVs) that appeal to consumers. While EV adoption is on the rise in the U.S., sales still trail significantly behind those of conventional gasoline-powered internal-combustion engine vehicles.
‘Waters of the United States’
The EPA has indicated it will reevaluate the definition of “waters of the United States” in the Clean Water Act alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
This definition is critical because it dictates whether “farmers, landowners, and businesses need to obtain expensive permits prior to commencing a project,” as the EPA has stated.
The agency emphasized that it has “failed to adhere to legal requirements” and comply with a Supreme Court ruling regarding Sackett v. EPA, and will initiate a new rulemaking process to revise the 2023 definition of “waters of the United States.”
“It is essential for Americans to understand which waters fall under federal jurisdiction as defined by the Clean Water Act to stimulate economic growth and reduce costs for American families while ensuring the protection of human health and the environment,” the agency asserted.
Clean Power Plan 2.0
The EPA will also reconsider the previous administration’s regulations on power plant emissions, commonly known as “Clean Power Plan 2.0.” This set of regulations replaced a prior plan that was nullified by the Supreme Court in 2022, as noted.
On March 12, the agency announced that the Supreme Court had invalidated a 2015 version of the Clean Power Plan. In this ruling, according to the EPA, the court “prohibited EPA from misapplying the Clean Air Act to influence Americans’ energy choices and alter the balance of the nation’s electrical fuel mix.”
“We are committed to ensuring that the agency adheres to the rule of law while providing all Americans with access to reliable and affordable energy,” Zeldin concluded.
