Posts Tagged ‘EPA news’
Easing the mandates may violate federal law.
by Michael Strong on Sep.05, 2017

Maine Attorney General Janet Mills said 14 states would file a lawsuit against the EPA if it eased CAFE standards, saying changes would violate federal law.
If the Trump Administration elects to rollback current and future emissions standards, 14 states plan to file a lawsuit forcing the current CAFE standards to remain in place.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced it would reopen the review period for fuel economy and emissions standards set to go into full effect in 2025. Automakers initially hailed the move by the agency, but have since said they’re in favor of the tougher mandates.

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That hasn’t stopped the agency, led by former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, a well-known climate-science skeptic, from moving ahead with the process. The EPA is still technically in the information gathering stage so no decisions have been made, but officials have essentially said they expect to make a change. (more…)
Tags: CAFE changes mean lawsuits, CAFE news, EPA CAFE lawsuit, EPA CAFE roll back, EPA news, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, emission standards lawsuits, michael strong, states suing if CAFE weakened, states to sue EPA, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 1 Comment »
Cooperative tone reflects Trump team push for regulatory reform.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Aug.03, 2017

Chris Grundler, EPA director of air quality, is now in favor of easing CAFE rules to improve the working relationship with automakers.
With the federal government expected to soon move to relax tough mileage and emissions standards, a senior EPA official is calling for a less combative approach to working with the auto industry.
That’s a sharp reversal of position by Chris Grundler, the man in charge of air quality at the Environmental Protection Agency. Only a year ago, Grundler said he stood behind the greenhouse gas standards the Obama Administration enacted in 2011 as part of a grand compromise between the government, regulators and the auto industry.

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“I think we have a convergence of interests here with the administration’s focus on regulatory reform,” the EPA official said during the annual automotive Management Briefing Seminars held in Traverse City, Michigan. “I think it presents a golden opportunity for us to rethink how emissions get done.” (more…)
Tags: CAR seminar, Chris Grundler EPA, EPA CAFE automakers, EPA news, EPA official Grundler, EPA relationship with automakers, Grundler work with automakers, TheDetroitBureau.com., auto news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
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German maker reaches agreement with 10 states over enviro claims.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.30, 2017

Volkswagen can now sell the "new" diesels that have sitting in limbo since the EPA ordered them to stop selling the vehicles in fall 2015.
Volkswagen has reached an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency that will allow it to sell off about 67,000 diesel vehicles that have been in limbo since the EPA accused the German maker of cheating on emissions tests in September 2015.
The EPA previously approved a fix for about 70,000 VW diesel vehicles already in consumer hands. But the carmaker will still have to repurchase roughly 500,000 vehicles using its 2.0- and 3.0-liter diesel engines that cannot be brought into compliance with Clear Air Act standards.

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Separately, VW on Thursday said that it had reached an agreement with 10 states about environmental and consumer claims related to the diesel emissions scandal. The deal will cost the maker an estimated $157.45 million, but in a statement, VW said, it “avoids further prolonged and costly litigation,” and will let the carmaker “work to earn back the trust of its customers, regulators and the public.” (more…)
Tags: EPA news, TheDetroitBureau.com., VW EPA forge diesel sales deal, VW EPA reach deal, VW can sell old diesels, VW diesel news, VW's banned diesels for sale, Volkswagen Environmental Protection Agency deal, auto news, diesel news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau, vw news
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Pruitt believes in states' rights, except California.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jan.19, 2017

Scott Pruitt, Trump's choice to head the EPA, believes the agency has overstepped its authority.
The Trump Administration’s choice to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency highlighted the stark difference between his expected approach to issues involving automakers, if confirmed, and those of previous administrations during his Senate confirmation testimony.
Scott Pruitt, the former oil industry lawyer and Oklahoma Attorney General, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to head the EPA, told a Senate committee he was a fervent believer in a “states’ rights” approach to environmental regulation and controls.

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However, at the same time Pruitt said that he planned to review the State of California’s right to set its own air quality regulations. (more…)
Tags: EPA news, Oklahoma's Scott Pruitt, Pruitt confirmation hearing, Pruitt testifies EPA, Scott Pruitt EPA, TheDetroitBureau.com., Trump news, Trump's pick for EPA, auto news, joseph szczesny, new EPA leader, thedetroitbureau
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Nominee likely to roll back many Obama administration initiatives.
by Michael Strong on Dec.08, 2016

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The big-oil friendly AG has sued the agency repeatedly during his tenure and suggests that debate on climate change is “far from settled.”
Pruitt is Trump’s third agency head nominee – joining Housing and Urban Development Secretary nominee Ben Carson and Education Secretary nominee Betsey DeVos – to have deep philosophical differences about the mission of the agency that person will head.

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“The American people are tired of seeing billions of dollars drained from our economy due to unnecessary EPA regulations, and I intend to run this agency in a way that fosters both responsible protection of the environment and freedom for American businesses,” said Pruitt in the statement announcing his nomination. (more…)
Tags: EPA news, Oklahoma AG Scott Pruitt, Pruitt nominee for EPA, TheDetroitBureau.com., Trump EPA nominee, Trump chooses Pruitt for EPA, Trump news, auto news, michael strong, new EPA chief, oil friendly AG for EPA, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automobiles | 1 Comment »
Mazda tops list without benefit of hybrid or electric vehicle in its line-up.
by Joseph Szczesny on Dec.17, 2015

Mazda was deemed by the EPA to have the most fuel-efficient line-up in the U.S. Company officials attired it to the SkyActiv motor used across the portfolio.
With the declining price of fuel helping slowing the trends towards more fuel efficient vehicles, the emission of greenhouse gasses from light-duty vehicles has continued to decline, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA also said in its most recent Light Duty Fuel Economy Trends report that Mazda Motor Corp. is the most fuel-efficient auto manufacturer in the U.S. With the highest fleet-wide adjusted fuel economy performance of 29.4 miles per gallon, and the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of 328, Mazda led the chart for model year 2014.

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For the third consecutive year, Mazda has achieved the highest fuel efficiency of any other mainstream automotive manufacturer in the industry, without offering a hybrid or electric vehicle, noted James O’Sullivan, president and chief executive officer of Mazda’s North American Operations, who credited the company’s SkyActiv technology for the strong fuel-economy numbers. (more…)
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Posted in Automobiles | 4 Comments »
Critics slam plan due to $12,000 per-truck cost increase.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jun.22, 2015

New rules on trucks, buses and even large pickup trucks will cut emissions and improve fuel efficiency, but add costs to the truck.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are proposing controversial new standards that would improve fuel efficiency and cut carbon pollution for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including the largest pickup trucks sold by General Motors, Ford and FCA U.S.
The proposed rules would apply to semi-trucks, large pickup trucks and vans, and all types and sizes of buses and work trucks. The rules would require a 24% carbon dioxide emissions cut and fuel consumption less than an equivalent vehicle scheduled for sale in 2018, based on the fully phased-in standards for the tractor alone in a tractor-trailer vehicle. The proposed rules would cover model years 2021-2027.

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The proposed standards are expected to lower carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1 billion metric tons, cut fuel costs by about $170 billion, and reduce oil consumption by up to 1.8 billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles sold under the program, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. (more…)
Tags: EPA news, EPA truck standards, NHTSA, TheDetroitBureau.com., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, auto news, greenhouse gas rules, heavy-duty truck rules, joseph szczesny, medium-duty truck rules, national highway traffic safety administration, new truck fuel efficiency rules, nhtsa news, thedetroitbureau, truck emissions rules, trucking emissions, trucking news
Posted in Automobiles | 3 Comments »