All articles tagged with #clean air act
About 40 states and local governments filed a petition in the US Court of Appeals to overturn the Trump administration's repeal of the Obama-era 2009 endangerment finding that greenhouse gases threaten public health, arguing the move violates the Clean Air Act; the EPA says it carefully reevaluated the ruling's legal basis as part of its policy resets, following broader climate policy rollbacks by the administration.
Drone- and thermal-imaging investigations show xAI operating 15+ unpermitted gas-turbine units at its Southaven facility in Mississippi, despite an EPA ruling that such sources require permits; state regulators say the turbines are portable and exempt, while the EPA and environmental groups warn this violates the Clean Air Act and poses health risks as xAI seeks permits for more turbines and expansion of its Colossus datacenters.
President Trump's administration moved to rescind the EPA's endangerment finding, a bedrock basis for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, triggering planned lawsuits by environmental groups and Democrat-led states that are likely to reach the Supreme Court as the Court shifts conservative, with years of litigation ahead that could reshape how U.S. climate policy is enforced and challenged.
The EPA issued guidance clarifying that the Clean Air Act supports farmers’ and equipment owners’ right to repair nonroad diesel equipment, stating they can access repair tools and software and use temporary emission-control overrides for repairs. This aims to cut repair costs and reduce dependency on dealers without changing emission standards, potentially boosting productivity for farmers.
The US Supreme Court will hear a challenge by fuel producers against California's vehicle emissions standards, which were allowed by a Biden administration waiver under the Clean Air Act. The case will determine if fuel producers have legal standing to contest the waiver, which they argue affects their business by promoting electric vehicles over gas-powered ones. This challenge follows a history of California receiving waivers to set stricter emissions standards, a practice reinstated by the Biden administration after being rescinded by Trump. The outcome could impact future challenges to environmental regulations.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case challenging California's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards, a provision allowed under the Clean Air Act due to the state's unique pollution issues. This follows a legal battle initiated when the Trump administration revoked California's waiver for stricter standards, a decision reversed by the Biden administration. Ohio and 16 other states argue the waiver violates the constitutional principle of state equality, while environmental groups claim the lawsuit aims to undermine the Clean Air Act. The D.C. Circuit Court previously upheld the EPA's authority to grant such waivers.
The Supreme Court will hear a case challenging California's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards, which impact greenhouse gas regulations. The case focuses on whether business interests, like liquid fuel companies, have legal standing to sue, arguing that California's rules reduce demand for their products. The court will not address the broader issue of California's right to set these standards, which the EPA has historically allowed through waivers. The Biden administration supports California's regulations, which aim for all vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is urging President Joe Biden to approve Clean Air Act waivers before Donald Trump takes office, as Trump plans to revoke California's authority to enforce its pollution rules. Newsom's push includes eight waivers covering various emissions regulations. While Biden's approval could delay Trump's revocation process, the Trump administration could easily deny any pending requests. California officials remain hopeful, citing past approvals during the Obama administration, while industry groups focus on adapting to potential regulatory changes.
The Supreme Court's conservative majority appears poised to block the Biden administration's "good neighbor" plan, which aims to curtail air pollution that drifts across state lines. The plan requires states to take measures to reduce emissions causing smog and linked to health issues. If halted, the ruling would limit the administration's environmental protection efforts, aligning with recent court decisions that have curtailed the EPA's authority in addressing climate change and water pollution.
The Supreme Court, particularly its conservative justices, expressed skepticism about the EPA's cross-state air pollution rule during oral arguments, questioning the agency's consideration of potential changes if certain states were excluded due to litigation. The rule, aimed at reducing air pollution across 23 states, has faced legal challenges, with court rulings currently limiting its coverage to 11 states. The case has prompted debate over the need for Supreme Court intervention before lower courts make final rulings, with industry groups and GOP-led states arguing against the rule's potential economic impact and the Biden administration emphasizing the importance of emission reductions for downwind states.
The Supreme Court is considering whether to block a Biden administration policy aimed at reducing air pollution that crosses state lines, with three Republican-led states and various industries challenging the "good neighbor" plan introduced by the EPA. The policy seeks to curb nitrogen oxide pollution from industrial facilities in 23 "upwind" states that contribute to pollution in "downwind" states. The court's conservative majority has been skeptical of broad federal regulatory power, and the policy has already been blocked in 12 of the 23 states it applies to. The EPA defends the rule, stating that it is in "full force" and able to "function properly" in the 11 states where it is in effect.
Diesel engine manufacturer Cummins has agreed to pay a record $1.675 billion to settle civil cases brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and the state of California for allegedly using "defeat devices" to bypass emissions laws in hundreds of thousands of engines. The settlement, the largest ever for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, involves the recall of over 900,000 RAM pickups to update their emissions software. Cummins did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement but remains committed to its zero-emissions future strategy.
Cummins will recall and repair over 600,000 Ram vehicles equipped with its diesel engines as part of a $2 billion federal settlement over allegations of installing emissions test bypassing software. The company will pay a $1.675 billion civil penalty and an additional $325 million for remedies, marking the largest ever settlement under the Clean Air Act. The recall will remove defeat devices from affected Ram pickup trucks from 2013-2019 model years, bringing them into compliance with Clean Air Act standards.
Cummins Inc. will recall 600,000 Ram trucks as part of a settlement with federal and California authorities over illegal software that allowed the vehicles to skirt diesel emissions tests. The settlement includes a $2 billion penalty and requires the company to remedy environmental damage caused by the emissions cheating. This recall follows similar cases involving other automakers, highlighting the ongoing efforts to enforce emissions standards and protect public health from harmful pollutants.
Cummins Inc. will recall 600,000 Ram trucks equipped with illegal software that allowed them to cheat diesel emissions tests, as part of a $2 billion settlement with federal and California authorities. The settlement also includes a $1.675 billion civil penalty and $325 million for pollution remedies. The recall affects trucks from 2013 through 2019 model years, with additional trucks from 2019 through 2023 having unreported emissions control software. This comes after similar emissions cheating cases involving Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler, and Daimler in recent years, highlighting the ongoing challenges in enforcing emissions standards in the automotive industry.