Lee Zeldin is the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator—and he plans to rescind emissions regulations.
The Senate confirmed Zeldin on Wednesday by a 56-42 vote. Zeldin will lead EPA, the nation’s top environmental authority with 17,000 employees, and will be President Donald Trump’s main adviser on environmental issues.
As the EPA's leader, Zeldin can influence all new agency rulemakings, revise existing rulemakings, and decide whether to grant waivers to the California Air Resources Board.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, we will take great strides to defend every American’s access to clean air, clean water, and clean land," Zeldin said. "We will maintain and expand the gold standard of environmental stewardship and conservation that President Trump set forth in his first administration while also prioritizing economic prosperity."
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Zeldin to roll back truck emissions standards
Zeldin will likely follow Trump’s environmental agenda in weakening emissions regulations, including EPA’s GHG3, which sets historic emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles.
The new administrator made few policy commitments during his Senate confirmation hearing. However, Trump, in his nomination, said Zeldin would “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses,” alluding to his plans to roll back EPA regulations. Zeldin, throughout his political career, promoted fossil fuels and opposed emissions regulations, as Politico reports.
Trump has already directed federal agencies, including the EPA, to review, revise, and eliminate emissions rules that Trump deems harmful.
Trucking industry groups support Zeldin
A wave of significant industry associations voiced their support for Zeldin, both after his nomination and confirmation.
Trucking industry groups largely oppose the latest emissions regulations from EPA and CARB. Experts forecast that EPA’s NOx and GHG emissions standards will raise the average cost of new trucks by tens of thousands of dollars, while CARB’s Advanced Clean Trucks mandates a percentage of electric vehicle sales in participating states.
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Chris Spear, American Trucking Associations president and CEO, congratulated Zeldin and expressed hope that he would rescind EPA’s standards.
“Administrator Zeldin is a proven, collaborative leader America’s truckers deserve to restore balance at EPA. By reviving the productive partnership with our industry, he can build on our impressive environmental achievements without disrupting the supply chain,” Spear said. “We look forward to working with Administrator Zeldin to replace electric truck mandates with national emission standards that are technologically achievable, encourage innovation, and account for the operational realities of our essential industry.”
Truckload Carriers Association President Jim Ward expressed a similar hope for more lax standards.
“We are optimistic about collaborating with Administrator Zeldin to develop commonsense policies that reflect technological advancements, infrastructure readiness, and the essential goal of maintaining an efficient and reliable supply chain,” Ward said. “We can ensure that emission standards and timelines are practical and attainable by fostering open dialogue and working together.”
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer also congratulated the new administrator and criticized EPA’s standards.
“Small-business truckers, who make up 96% of trucking, have faced an uncertain future in recent years from top-down environmental regulations and mandates,” Spencer said. “We look forward to working with Administrator Zeldin on commonsense environmental policies that consider the local mom-and-pop trucking businesses that keep America’s supply chain running.”
The Clean Freight Coalition, an organization critical of GHG3 that includes national trucking industry groups such as ATA and TCA, shared the same mix of congratulations and eager criticism.
“President Trump’s Unleashing America’s Energy Executive Order is a solid first step for the industry,” CFC’s executive director Jim Mullen said. “Repealing the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Phase 3 de facto ZEV mandate and revoking waivers for California’s truck and bus regulations would reassert the need for achievable uniform regulations to support our nation’s commerce. The Clean Freight Coalition is ready to roll up our sleeves and assist the incoming administration in setting truck emission standards that are sustainable, affordable, and protect the nation’s supply chain.”
See also: Is GHG3 an EV mandate? Almost
