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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today granted two requests from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for waivers to implement and enforce its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II)* regulations for light-duty vehicles, and its “Omnibus” low-NOx regulation for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines. Under the Clean Air Act, California can adopt emissions requirements independently from EPA’s regulations to meet its significant air quality challenges. However, California must seek a waiver from EPA for new motor vehicle emission standards.
“After reviewing the information provided by California, reviewing comments submitted by the public, and applying the limited criteria for waiver review under the Clean Air Act, EPA determined in each case that it would be appropriate to grant both waiver requests. The records, included in the waiver decisions, contain public comments on the programs’ feasibility, including costs to manufacturers and the lead time provided. EPA’s review found that opponents of the waivers did not meet their burden to show how either program is inconsistent with the Clean Air Act. California has longstanding authority to request waivers from EPA to protect its residents from dangerous air pollution coming from mobile sources like cars and trucks,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today’s actions follow through on EPA’s commitment to partner with states to reduce emissions and act on the threat of climate change.”
The ACC II program is a single coordinated package of requirements for model year 2026 through 2035 and beyond for on-road light- and medium-duty engines and vehicles. The ACC II regulations include revisions to both California’s Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations.
CARB projects that the ACC II program will reduce smog and soot-causing pollutants – including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as well as oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC), which are precursors of ground-level ozone – as well as reduce greenhouse gases and toxic air pollutants.
CARB projects that its Low-NOx standards will protect communities from dangerous NOx pollution that mixes in the atmosphere to form ground-level ozone, aka “smog,” which can lead to costly and harmful health impacts such as increased illnesses, asthma attacks, lost days of work or school, and hospitalizations.
With the federal waiver for the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) rule, California can fully implement its regulation that would move the state toward 100% sales of zero emission options by 2035, increasing choices for consumers that save on fuel and maintenance costs and helping clean the air. A second waiver was granted for the Heavy-Duty Omnibus regulation, which will drastically reduce smog-forming emissions of and particulate matter and nitrogen oxide, harmful pollutants that embed in people’s lungs and bloodstreams and are tied to serious health issues.
The decision is consistent with more than 50 years of precedent that allows California to implement innovative solutions to address its persistent air quality challenges, reflecting the cooperative federalism built into the Clean Air Act and the U.S. Constitution which preserves the rights of states to protect their own public health and welfare.
“Clean cars are here to stay. The Biden-Harris Administration reaffirmed what we’ve known for decades – California can rise to the challenge of protecting our people by cleaning our air and cutting pollution,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “With more makes and models available than ever before, millions of Californians have already made the switch to clean cars.”
“These waivers support California’s win-win policy priorities: slashing harmful pollution and related health costs while driving investment, innovation, job creation and opportunity,” said California Secretary for Environmental Protection Yana Garcia.
“California’s ongoing success in tackling pollution challenges and improving public health is possible thanks to landmark regulations that support technological innovation and move us toward a zero-emissions future for transportation,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “Consumers and fleets are increasingly making the choice to drive clean vehicles, and today’s waiver approvals will further that progress.”
*ACC II requires an increasing number of clean vehicles be delivered for sale each year. By 2035, all those vehicles must be zero-emission, which includes the option to sell plug-in hybrid vehicles.
- The regulation does not ban fossil fueled cars and pickup trucks.
- Residents can drive existing internal combustion vehicles as long as they want.
- The regulation will save drivers of clean vehicles $7500 in maintenance and fuel costs over the first 10 years of use.
- It also will cut harmful pollutants by over 25%, save lives and save Californians $13 billion in health costs related to respiratory illnesses.
The Omnibus regulation will require manufacturers to comply with more stringent emissions standards.
- It will cut heavy-duty NOx emissions by 90%, overhaul engine testing procedures, and further extend engine warranties, which will help California meet federal air quality standards and achieve critical public health goals.
- The expected public health benefits from reduced illnesses and other improvements are $23 billion.
In California consumers are increasingly choosing clean vehicle options. With more than 2 million zero-emission passenger cars sold in California, recent data shows that clean vehicles represent 26% of sales. The same success is reflected in the medium- and heavy-duty sector, with sales ahead of schedule two years in a row, well in advance of the state’s requirements, according to CARB.
NADA released the following statement in response to EPA granting CARB’s application for a waiver allowing CARB to set and enforce its own separate vehicle emissions standards through Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC2) regulations:
“NADA is disappointed the Biden administration has granted CARB’s vehicle-emissions waiver allowing it to institute a ban on gas-powered vehicles beginning in 2026. NADA has long supported a single, national fuel economy standard that is technologically feasible, economically practicable, and does not restrict consumer choice. We urge the incoming Trump administration to revoke this anti-consumer mandate.”
California Advanced Clean Cars II Regs – EPA Grants Waivers!
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today granted two requests from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for waivers to implement and enforce its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II)* regulations for light-duty vehicles, and its “Omnibus” low-NOx regulation for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines. Under the Clean Air Act, California can adopt emissions requirements independently from EPA’s regulations to meet its significant air quality challenges. However, California must seek a waiver from EPA for new motor vehicle emission standards.
“After reviewing the information provided by California, reviewing comments submitted by the public, and applying the limited criteria for waiver review under the Clean Air Act, EPA determined in each case that it would be appropriate to grant both waiver requests. The records, included in the waiver decisions, contain public comments on the programs’ feasibility, including costs to manufacturers and the lead time provided. EPA’s review found that opponents of the waivers did not meet their burden to show how either program is inconsistent with the Clean Air Act. California has longstanding authority to request waivers from EPA to protect its residents from dangerous air pollution coming from mobile sources like cars and trucks,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Today’s actions follow through on EPA’s commitment to partner with states to reduce emissions and act on the threat of climate change.”
The ACC II program is a single coordinated package of requirements for model year 2026 through 2035 and beyond for on-road light- and medium-duty engines and vehicles. The ACC II regulations include revisions to both California’s Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations.
CARB projects that the ACC II program will reduce smog and soot-causing pollutants – including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as well as oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC), which are precursors of ground-level ozone – as well as reduce greenhouse gases and toxic air pollutants.
CARB projects that its Low-NOx standards will protect communities from dangerous NOx pollution that mixes in the atmosphere to form ground-level ozone, aka “smog,” which can lead to costly and harmful health impacts such as increased illnesses, asthma attacks, lost days of work or school, and hospitalizations.
With the federal waiver for the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACCII) rule, California can fully implement its regulation that would move the state toward 100% sales of zero emission options by 2035, increasing choices for consumers that save on fuel and maintenance costs and helping clean the air. A second waiver was granted for the Heavy-Duty Omnibus regulation, which will drastically reduce smog-forming emissions of and particulate matter and nitrogen oxide, harmful pollutants that embed in people’s lungs and bloodstreams and are tied to serious health issues.
The decision is consistent with more than 50 years of precedent that allows California to implement innovative solutions to address its persistent air quality challenges, reflecting the cooperative federalism built into the Clean Air Act and the U.S. Constitution which preserves the rights of states to protect their own public health and welfare.
“Clean cars are here to stay. The Biden-Harris Administration reaffirmed what we’ve known for decades – California can rise to the challenge of protecting our people by cleaning our air and cutting pollution,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “With more makes and models available than ever before, millions of Californians have already made the switch to clean cars.”
“These waivers support California’s win-win policy priorities: slashing harmful pollution and related health costs while driving investment, innovation, job creation and opportunity,” said California Secretary for Environmental Protection Yana Garcia.
“California’s ongoing success in tackling pollution challenges and improving public health is possible thanks to landmark regulations that support technological innovation and move us toward a zero-emissions future for transportation,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “Consumers and fleets are increasingly making the choice to drive clean vehicles, and today’s waiver approvals will further that progress.”
*ACC II requires an increasing number of clean vehicles be delivered for sale each year. By 2035, all those vehicles must be zero-emission, which includes the option to sell plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The Omnibus regulation will require manufacturers to comply with more stringent emissions standards.
In California consumers are increasingly choosing clean vehicle options. With more than 2 million zero-emission passenger cars sold in California, recent data shows that clean vehicles represent 26% of sales. The same success is reflected in the medium- and heavy-duty sector, with sales ahead of schedule two years in a row, well in advance of the state’s requirements, according to CARB.
NADA released the following statement in response to EPA granting CARB’s application for a waiver allowing CARB to set and enforce its own separate vehicle emissions standards through Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC2) regulations:
“NADA is disappointed the Biden administration has granted CARB’s vehicle-emissions waiver allowing it to institute a ban on gas-powered vehicles beginning in 2026. NADA has long supported a single, national fuel economy standard that is technologically feasible, economically practicable, and does not restrict consumer choice. We urge the incoming Trump administration to revoke this anti-consumer mandate.”