U.S. EPA Repeals 2009 Climate Finding, Eliminates Vehicle Emission Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Feb. 12 announced a final rule rescinding the 2009 endangerment finding and eliminating federal greenhouse gas emission standards for motor vehicles and engines beginning with model year 2012 and extending beyond model year 2027. The final rule is expected to save more than $1.3 trillion by eliminating regulatory requirements to measure, report, certify, and comply with the vehicle GHG emission standards. The endangerment finding underpinned the agency’s authority to regulate GHG emissions.

The rule withdraws federal greenhouse gas limits that supported vehicle emissions standards adopted during the Obama and Biden administrations. It also eliminates off-cycle credit programs, including incentives tied to automatic engine start-stop systems. EPA described the action as restoring consumer choice, reducing vehicle costs, and lowering freight and logistics expenses that influence prices across the broader economy.

The agency reevaluated the legal foundation of the endangerment finding in light of recent Supreme Court rulings, including Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and West Virginia v. EPA. It concluded that Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act does not authorize regulation of motor vehicle emissions for the purpose of addressing global climate change and determined that policy decisions of this scope rest with Congress.

EPA also determined that eliminating GHG emissions from U.S. vehicles would not materially affect global climate indicators through 2100 and therefore maintaining the standards is not necessary to fulfill its statutory mission. The rule does not affect regulations governing criteria pollutants or hazardous air toxics.

Officials determined the endangerment finding enabled broader regulatory programs affecting multiple sectors and contributed to higher vehicle prices and compliance costs. The repeal is expected to reduce compliance burdens, result in average cost savings of over $2,400 per vehicle, and expand access to newer vehicles.

While the Trump administration described the move as the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history and said it would reduce costs to consumers and industry, environmental groups opposed the rollback. The Natural Resources Defense Council criticized the action calling it “the single biggest attack in history on the federal government’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis” and announced its intent to challenge EPA’s “unscientific and illegal repeal” of the endangerment finding and elimination of  vehicle standards.

The final action follows a 52-day public comment period and four days of hearings that included more than 600 participants. EPA reported receiving about 572,000 comments and made revisions in response to stakeholder input.