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US House votes to rescind California's heavy-duty truck regulations

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to revoke the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of California’s plans for a growing number of zero emission heavy-duty trucks.

The House also voted on repealing an EPA waiver granted in December by former president Joe Biden to California's "Omnibus", low-NOx regulations for heavy-duty highway vehicles and off-road engines.

Separately, the U.S. House will vote on Thursday against California's historic plan to stop selling gasoline-only cars by 2035. This plan has already been adopted by eleven other states. The EPA granted a waiver for the plan under the Clean Air Act in December.

The question remains as to whether Congress has the power to revoke waivers by using the Congressional Review Act. In March, the

The Government Accountability Office has said that waivers are not allowed.

The CRA allows for repeal of the law with only a majority vote in the U.S. Senate.

California Air Resources Board stated Wednesday that the votes were in violation of the Congressional Review Act, nonpartisan analyses by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Senate parliamentarian.

A spokesperson for the board said that "CARB will continue to carry out its mission of protecting public health in Californians affected by harmful air pollutants."

Republican Representative John James stated that the rules will increase vehicle prices and burden truckers and working families across the nation.

California, under an executive order signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2020, plans to mandate that by 2045, all medium- and heavy duty vehicles will be zero-emission wherever possible, moving away from diesel powered trucks.

CARB reports that heavy-duty vehicles weighing more than 14,000 pounds (6.4 tons) account for over 50% of the nitrogen oxides and diesel fine particle pollution on California's roads.

The NOx rule is expected to reduce heavy-duty vehicle emissions by 90%, and will result in $23 Billion in health benefits due to reduced illnesses.

The largest U.S. source of transportation is U.S.

greenhouse gas emissions

Heavy-duty vehicles, with 23%, are the second largest contributors. (Reporting and editing by Stephen Coates; David Shepardson)

(source: Reuters)