EPA Wants to Revoke California Auto Regulation Powers

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Bloomberg

Technology
EPA Wants to Revoke California Auto Regulation Powers
By Ryan Beene
September 5, 2019, 1:48 PM EDT

The Trump administration is preparing a plan to strip California’s authority to set tougher auto efficiency regulations than the federal government, even while agencies continue finalizing a rollback of national standards, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The matter is still under consideration and no final decision to proceed has been made but is expected in the coming days, said the person, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter.

Under the plan, the Environmental Protection Agency would revoke a waiver granted to California allowing the state to limit vehicle greenhouse gas emissions more stringently than federal rules, as well as the state’s requirement that companies sell electric cars in greater numbers each year, the person said. In addition, the U.S. Transportation Department plans to assert that the California regulations are preempted by federal fuel-economy regulations.

The plan would also leave in place California’s regulations covering smog-forming emissions from cars and other sources, the person said. Consideration of the plan was previously reported by Politico.
....

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-05/epa-is-readying-plan-to-revoke-california-auto-regulation-powers

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Federalism!

-- -- -- --

Hat tip, Joe.My.God:

Trump To Revoke California’s Auto Emission Standards
September 5, 2019

https://www.joemygod.com/2019/09/trump-to-revoke-californias-auto-emission-standards/

[keithbvadu2]

1. Aren't republicans supposed to be against big gov't?

Aren't republicans supposed to be against big gov't?

[rickyhall]

9. Only if the big gov't is run by Democrats

Its kindof like the deficit hing

[Yavin4]

16. And for States rights

But in each case, that only applies to race.

[Freethinker65]

2. See you in court. Interesting how only "Red" states can claim States' rights for conservatives.

Now, I could understand not forcing automakers to comply...but you just know they all want to sell in California and as long as they can charge more to their California customer to be in state compliance, there is, and has been, no real issue.

[MurrayDelph]

6. They only believe in "States Rights"

when it can be used to hurt people

[TygrBright]

3. I would SO love to see THIS Supreme Court rule on a 10th Amendment suit... n/t

[Retrograde]

4. I'm confused - States' Rights are supposed to be good, right?

That's what the right always claims when it suits them!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Are states' rights a thing only when states gerrymander in favor of the GOP?

[lagomorph777]

7. Good luck with that.

Which part of this is unclear?

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

[BootinUp]

8. Would end up being another loss for them in court.

Because they will try to use alternative science to justify it.

[NotHardly]

10. Repugs love them some Fed Gov interference when they are big gov with Russian $$$$

[sakabatou]

11. The Trump EPA just loves pollution, huh

[NAVAIR000]

12. California Will Continue To Set Environmental Standards

The federal government does NOT have the power to take away a states mandated laws which surpass the federal standards. States MUST not drop below FEDERAL standards. California will continue to do what is correct California has done fine and good luck with the other parts of the country.If the automobile industry wants to sell vehicles in California they better COMPLY with California's standards which are "California Air Resources Board (CARB)."

[machoneman]

18. That's my understanding as well. ANY state can mandate auto emissions and even safety standards.

What's next? Dropping air bag and seat belt standards? Fools, indeed!

[cojoel]

20. That's not really the case

The Clean Air Act in general prohibits states from setting their own auto emission standards. However, it explicitly allows for California to set its own air pollution standards because they were already doing so prior to the passage of the Clean Air Act. This isn't an EPA regulation that can just be changed.

Since that time other states elected to use the California standards in their states, and these states are called CARB states (named after the California Air Resources Board that issues the California regulations). So a state can choose to be Federal or CARB, but not make some third thing.

I don't now about other safety standards and what states might be able to do. A lot of it was Federalized at the then-more-powerful Automobile Industry, so I would not be surprised if those are set also.

[LiberalLovinLug]

13. What does EPA stand for again?

Oh right

[MBS]

14. This is beyond sick. n/t

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

15. Crap like this pisses me off. It's as if the purpose of this administration

is to maximize oil industry profits.

[aggiesal]

17. The purpose of this administration is to ...

overturn everything Obama implemented.

Yesterday, light bulbs.
Today Car emissions.

THANKS, Obama!

[Bayard]

19. California:

By gawd you will NOT (cough) have cleaner air (cough cough) than us! (cough cough cough)

I know it took me forever to get my truck to pass the emissions test when I moved to Calif.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

21. EPA

Under Trump it means the Environmental Pollution Agency

[Sapient Donkey]

22. States rights...but only in cases that we support.

[Evolve Dammit]

23. EPA has been "taken over" by GOP plants, much like the other Fed agencies.

GOP's mission is to gut/ destroy the government agencies that exist for public benefit. It's been going on at least since the 60's when the likes of Cheney and Rumsfeld voted against Medicare and other truly progressive legislation. Then the Grover Norquist mantra of shrinking government to the point you could "drown it in a bathtub" during the war criminal Bush years. It is what they have done, who they are, and will continue to do. As Michael Moore once said: "They're like sharks. They never sleep." So true.
So, mobilize friends and family, contact your reps regularly, volunteer for the candidate of your choice, vote (of course) and above all, keep your chin up. Cuz that really pisses them off! And remember, there are still really talented people in all these agencies that are hanging in there because they believe in the real mission of the agency, and it is their career, not just a "job."

[SCVDem]

24. The auto industry

sides with the California standards.

Since we are tougher, we set the world standard.

Why build two different of anything, including obsolete light bulbs.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

25. The White House Wants To Strike Back At California

The White House Wants To Strike Back At California

Elizabeth Blackstock
Today 9:35am

California might not be allowed to set zero-emissions standards anymore, GM workers in South Korea are about to strike, and automakers are desperate to avoid a no-deal Brexit. All this and more in The Morning Shift for Friday, September 6, 2019.

1st: No Authority For California?

California’s been setting its own standards for greenhouse gas emissions for decades now (and 13 other states follow its lead), and it’s pretty adamant it should have the authority to keep doing that. But the federal government under President Trump, which has been trying to roll back Obama-era fuel economy standards, is not too keen on that continuing.

Now, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, two federal agencies are trying to curtail that a bit.

The EPA and Department of Transportation are the two agencies in question. The plan here seems like it would lay the groundwork for limiting or ending California’s ability to set its own emissions rules.

From the story:

{snip}

[underpants]

26. The Price is Right! "...with California emissions "

That’s been the standard since the 70’s, right?

[Judi Lynn]

27. US launches antitrust probe of automakers' deal with California

By REUTERS |
PUBLISHED: September 6, 2019 at 10:19 am | UPDATED: September 6, 2019 at 10:19 am

By David Shepardson | Reuters

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether the decision of four automakers in July to reach a voluntary agreement with California to adopt state emissions standards violated antitrust law, people briefed on the matter said on Friday.

The antitrust division has sent a letter to the automakers indicating the Justice Department had opened a preliminary inquiry, the people said, and comes as the Trump administration has ramped up its opposition to automakers seeking to sidestep it on rolling back Obama-era fuel efficiency rules.

In July, Ford Motor Co, BMW AG, Volkswagen AG and Honda Motor Co said they had reached a deal to adopt standards that were lower than Obama-era rules but higher than the Trump administration’s 2018 proposal.

In doing so, the automakers are defying the Trump administration’s effort to strip the state of the right to fight climate change by setting its own standards. Automakers fear years of legal battles and want to ensure certainty over the requirements they will face nationwide.

More:
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2019/09/06/us-launches-antitrust-probe-of-automakers-deal-with-california/

[mahatmakanejeeves]

28. No good deed goes unpunished. NT

[mahatmakanejeeves]

29. Feds Launch Antitrust Investigation Into Four Car Companies That Sided With California: Report

Feds Launch Antitrust Investigation Into Four Car Companies That Sided With California: Report

Aaron Gordon
Today 11:30am