The California Air Resources Board withdrew its request for an EPA waiver to enforce its Advanced Clean Fleets rule. The withdrawal means CARB is now no longer seeking to enforce its ZEV mandate on fleets.
The move comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in for a second term on January 20.
On Monday, CARB’s executive officer, Steven Cliff, signed a letter to EPA’s acting administrator announcing the withdrawal.
“The trucking industry and American consumers can breathe a collective sigh of relief today after CARB finally bowed to reality and shelved its job-killing Advanced Clean Fleets regulation," said American Trucking Associations president and CEO Chris Spear. “We look forward to President-elect Trump rescinding CARB’s remaining unworkable waivers and new leadership at EPA restoring a common-sense approach that balances environmental progress with economic viability.”
See also: Here's what another Trump presidency means for trucking
Why revoke the request?
CARB withdrew its waiver request as part of its preparation for strife with the incoming president. After taking to the White House, Trump is expected to deny any pending CARB waivers.
Trump promised to combat emissions regulations during his campaign. "I will end the electric vehicle mandate on day one," Trump said at the Republican National Convention in July.
In his first term, Trump went so far as to revoke a CARB waiver.
California politicians also expect to bump heads with the Trump administration. Legislators convened a special session in December to prepare for conflict with the next president.
Trump's EPA nominee, Lee Zeldin, is also positioned to "ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions," according to Trump.
In a voice of support for Zeldin, whose confirmation hearing is scheduled for later this week, the ATA threw its support behind the former congressman and argued that the current U.S. EPA set the trucking industry up for failure by imposing unworkable mandates on unrealistic timelines.
“America’s truckers deserve an EPA leader who will work productively with industry to set federal emissions standards that are achievable and do not risk disrupting our supply chains,” ATA's Spear wrote in a letter of support. “Unfortunately, the current EPA failed to meet those thresholds and instead consistently conceded its federal responsibilities to the California Air Resources Board, creating a patchwork of state mandates and timelines for emissions reduction and forced electrification of heavy-duty trucking. We believe that under Rep. Zeldin’s leadership, the EPA can restore common sense to environmental policies, providing a national roadmap that is both ambitious and achievable.”
The Truckload Carriers Association's senior vp of safety and government affairs, David Heller, said the withdrawal "can only be viewed as a major victory for our industry."
"It goes without saying that our messaging during our Call-on-Washington in September was lasting and impactful," Heller told TCA members in a statement. "Of course, the withdrawal of this waiver request arrives less than a week before President-Elect Trump is sworn into office but represents a significant milestone in our industry’s efforts to curb this unattainable regulation."
Behind the waiver process
Under the Clean Air Act, California has the unique freedom to set its own emissions standards that exceed EPA's. CARB needs a waiver from EPA before it can enforce the regulations. States can choose to adopt the regulations that CARB sets.
See also: Fleets Explained: Emissions regulations
ACF is a controversial zero-emission vehicle mandate directly targeting fleets. The regulation requires certain fleets to phase-in ZEVs and, by 2036, requires manufacturers to only manufacture ZEV trucks. It is the only remaining major heavy-duty emissions regulation that CARB did not receive an EPA waiver for. The other two recent heavy-duty CARB regulations, Advanced Clean Trucks and Omnibus, already received waivers.
