{ "id": "R40506", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R40506", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 459040, "date": "2017-02-08", "retrieved": "2017-03-01T17:40:23.065585", "title": "Cars, Trucks, Aircraft, and EPA Climate Regulations", "summary": "This report discusses EPA\u2019s authority to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as it pertains to mobile sources, including cars, trucks, aircraft, ships, locomotives, nonroad vehicles and engines, and their fuels. The Supreme Court held in 2007 that the Clean Air Act (CAA) authorizes the agency to address GHG emissions. The key to using this CAA authority was for the EPA Administrator to find that GHG emissions endanger public health or welfare, a step taken in December 2009. \nUnder the Trump Administration, it is unclear whether this authority will be put to further use. Other questions concern what steps EPA and Congress may take with regard to already promulgated\u2014but not yet implemented\u2014standards for GHG emissions from cars and trucks. In principle, the auto manufacturing and trucking industries have been supportive of EPA\u2019s GHG regulations, in part because of concerns that states would implement a patchwork of standards in the absence of federal action. As the standards have been implemented, however, industry concerns have arisen regarding a lack of harmonization between EPA\u2019s GHG standards, fuel efficiency (CAFE) standards administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and related California GHG and fuel efficiency programs. \nOne issue concerns the Model Year (MY) 2017-2025 light-duty vehicle regulations. Under these standards, GHG emissions from new light-duty vehicles (i.e., cars, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, and most pickup trucks) will be reduced about 50% compared to 2010 levels, and average fuel economy will rise to nearly 50 miles per gallon by 2025. When EPA and NHTSA promulgated the standards in 2012, EPA committed to a Midterm Evaluation (MTE) of the 2022-2025 portion of the GHG standards. This evaluation was completed on January 12, 2017, with EPA deciding to maintain the standards as promulgated. Given industry concerns about the standards, there is speculation as to whether the Administration will reconsider the MTE decision. \nA second issue concerns GHG emission and fuel economy standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. EPA and NHTSA promulgated a second phase of these standards on October 25, 2016, covering trucks and engines beginning with the 2021 model year and truck trailers beginning in 2018. These standards could be reconsidered by the two agencies, or Congress could review them under the Congressional Review Act. GHG emissions are directly related to fuel combustion. In order to reduce GHG emissions, EPA expects the standards to increase fuel efficiency, lowering oil consumption by up to 2 billion barrels over the lifetime of 2018-2029 trucks and saving vehicle owners about $170 billion in fuel costs as a result. In general, the truck standards \u2013 with the exception of the portion dealing with trailers\u2014have been well-received, leaving in question whether general opposition to GHG rules will shape Congress\u2019s and the new Administration\u2019s reaction to the rules more than the views of the affected industries.\nA third potential issue concerns GHG emission standards for aircraft. In October 2016, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) agreed on international carbon dioxide (CO2) emission standards for aircraft, beginning in 2020, and on a system for offsetting future CO2 emissions from aviation. The emission standards would be implemented in the United States by EPA regulations issued under the CAA. U.S. airlines and aircraft manufacturers participated in the ICAO negotiations and have been supportive of the resulting agreements; whether EPA actions to implement them would run contrary to the President\u2019s and the Administration\u2019s broader views on regulation and climate change is unclear. \nIn addition to a discussion of these three issues, this report provides background on GHG emissions from other mobile sources, including ships, nonroad vehicles and engines, locomotives, and fuels.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R40506", "sha1": "f8fe7c941e70c31191fd09ace4a9beb713712850", "filename": "files/20170208_R40506_f8fe7c941e70c31191fd09ace4a9beb713712850.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R40506", "sha1": "4dc3f23d1e84eeaa6c41353f0103a00ddab0ac24", "filename": "files/20170208_R40506_4dc3f23d1e84eeaa6c41353f0103a00ddab0ac24.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4750, "name": "Air Quality" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4842, "name": "Climate Change" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4843, "name": "Transportation Infrastructure & Vehicles" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 4927, "name": "Renewable Energy & Efficiency" } ] }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 451100, "date": "2016-03-16", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T16:58:06.886655", "title": "Cars, Trucks, and Climate: EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources", "summary": "On July 13, 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed a second round of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and fuel economy standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. The standards, which will affect trucks beginning with the 2021 model year, are expected to be finalized in July 2016. \nThe standards will be the fourth set of GHG emission standards for mobile sources. Under standards promulgated in October 2012, GHG emissions from new cars and light trucks (i.e., SUVs, minivans, and most pickup trucks) will be phased in, beginning with model year (MY) 2017. When fully phased in (2025), emissions will be reduced about 50% compared to 2010, and average fuel economy (CAFE) standards will rise to nearly 50 miles per gallon. EPA had previously set GHG emission standards for MY2012-2016 cars and light trucks and for MY2014-MY2018 medium- and heavy-duty trucks. \nThese steps have been taken as Congress (particularly the House) and the Administration have reached an impasse over climate issues. The Administration has made clear that its preference would be for Congress to address the climate issue through new legislation. Nevertheless, in the wake of a 2007 Supreme Court decision, it has moved forward on several fronts to define how the Clean Air Act (CAA) will be used, and to promulgate regulations. \nThe key to using the CAA\u2019s authority to control greenhouse gases was for the EPA Administrator to find that GHG emissions are air pollutants that endanger public health or welfare. Then-EPA-Administrator Lisa Jackson promulgated such an endangerment finding in December 2009. With the endangerment finding finalized, the agency has proceeded to promulgate standards for emissions from motor vehicles and, subsequently, electric power plants. \nIn all, EPA has received 13 petitions asking that it make endangerment findings and regulate emissions of greenhouse gases. Eleven of the 13 petitions addressed mobile sources: besides motor vehicles, the petitions cover aircraft, ships, nonroad vehicles and engines, locomotives, and fuels, all of which are covered by Title II of the Clean Air Act. This report discusses the full range of EPA\u2019s authority under Title II and provides information regarding other mobile sources that might be regulated under this authority, in addition to describing the car and truck regulations. \nRegulation of GHGs from mobile sources has led the agency to establish controls for stationary sources, such as electric power plants, as well. Stationary source options, the authority for which comes from different parts of the CAA, are addressed in CRS Report R44341, EPA\u2019s Clean Power Plan for Existing Power Plants: Frequently Asked Questions, and other CRS reports.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R40506", "sha1": "ebc717fad75d1e6ef100679840ca96e5953d2685", "filename": "files/20160316_R40506_ebc717fad75d1e6ef100679840ca96e5953d2685.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R40506", "sha1": "4295b400a0ce8d8b48e40910886e06384889f229", "filename": "files/20160316_R40506_4295b400a0ce8d8b48e40910886e06384889f229.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 258, "name": "Clean Air Act and Air Quality" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 3390, "name": "Energy and Environmental Impacts of Transportation" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 3878, "name": "Climate Change Science, Technology, and Policy" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc462220/", "id": "R40506_2014Mar13", "date": "2014-03-13", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "Cars, Trucks, and Climate: EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources", "summary": "This report discusses the full range of EPA's authority under Title II and provides information regarding other mobile sources that might be regulated under this authority, in addition to describing the car and truck regulations.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140313_R40506_5c8fbe8e32f00ae713e9ce4d18ba42795155f178.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140313_R40506_5c8fbe8e32f00ae713e9ce4d18ba42795155f178.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Air pollution", "name": "Air pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Motor vehicle pollution control", "name": "Motor vehicle pollution control" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Air pollution control", "name": "Air pollution control" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Transportation", "name": "Transportation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc817091/", "id": "R40506_2013Feb14", "date": "2013-02-14", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Cars, Trucks, and Climate: EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130214_R40506_7fbe867da59151833da008434ddaec3fcebdec8e.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130214_R40506_7fbe867da59151833da008434ddaec3fcebdec8e.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc93816/", "id": "R40506_2010Nov02", "date": "2010-11-02", "retrieved": "2012-07-24T12:39:36", "title": "Cars, Trucks, and Climate: EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources", "summary": "As Congress and the Administration considered new legislation to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change over the last year and a half (a process that has now stalled), the Environmental Protection Agency simultaneously began to exercise its existing authority under the Clean Air Act to set standards for GHG emissions. The Administration has made clear that its preference would be for Congress to address the climate issue through new legislation. Nevertheless, it is moving forward on several fronts to define how the Clean Air Act will be used and to promulgate regulations. This report covers the steps that the Administration is taking on this topic.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20101102_R40506_75856b9a23aa421468ba9aaf70570cdface1ece8.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20101102_R40506_75856b9a23aa421468ba9aaf70570cdface1ece8.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Air pollution", "name": "Air pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Motor vehicle pollution control", "name": "Motor vehicle pollution control" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Air pollution control", "name": "Air pollution control" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Transportation", "name": "Transportation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc817794/", "id": "R40506_2010May04", "date": "2010-05-04", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Cars, Trucks, and Climate: EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100504_R40506_677a1a9fd137e47a823f5bca50dc1b649c6800d2.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100504_R40506_677a1a9fd137e47a823f5bca50dc1b649c6800d2.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc627207/", "id": "R40506_2009Dec09", "date": "2009-12-09", "retrieved": "2015-06-15T14:46:40", "title": "Cars and Climate: What Can EPA Do to Control Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources?", "summary": "This report discusses the debate surrounding proposed controls on greenhouse gas emissions. Not all parties are in agreement that controls on GHGs are desirable.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20091209_R40506_e88cbddbd36e7866f6b2a58e8f059d4513366945.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20091209_R40506_e88cbddbd36e7866f6b2a58e8f059d4513366945.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Greenhouse gases", "name": "Greenhouse gases" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Air pollution", "name": "Air pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental protection", "name": "Environmental protection" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental law and legislation", "name": "Environmental law and legislation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc627216/", "id": "R40506_2009Nov12", "date": "2009-11-12", "retrieved": "2015-06-15T14:46:40", "title": "Cars and Climate: What Can EPA Do to Control Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources?", "summary": "This report discusses the legislation to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change, and the attention that has focused on \"cap-and-trade\" legislation.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20091112_R40506_a6046bb644ec4390237dc69a9dfb88114716f53f.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20091112_R40506_a6046bb644ec4390237dc69a9dfb88114716f53f.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental protection", "name": "Environmental protection" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental policy", "name": "Environmental policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Environmental law and legislation", "name": "Environmental law and legislation" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc817352/", "id": "R40506_2009May08", "date": "2009-05-08", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Cars and Climate: What Can EPA Do to Control Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources?", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090508_R40506_473525436186dc62405cc41ec1cd199302c97480.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090508_R40506_473525436186dc62405cc41ec1cd199302c97480.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc700579/", "id": "R40506_2009Apr20", "date": "2009-04-20", "retrieved": "2015-08-27T16:20:31", "title": "Cars and Climate: What Can EPA Do to Control Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources?", "summary": "This report discusses legislation being considered by congress to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change. It discusses the EPA's authority under Title II and provides information regarding the mobile sources that might be regulated under this authority. Among these sources, motor vehicles (passenger cars and light trucks, including SUVs) are assumed to be the most likely initial targets for regulation, both because a petition addressing these sources began EPA's consideration of the endangerment issue, and because these are the most significant GHG emission sources among those covered by Title II.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090420_R40506_6a92ca2dee3c08792d8797c66523f7d63bc20f92.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090420_R40506_6a92ca2dee3c08792d8797c66523f7d63bc20f92.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Greenhouse gases", "name": "Greenhouse gases" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Air pollution", "name": "Air pollution" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Carbon taxes", "name": "Carbon taxes" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Energy", "name": "Energy" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Energy Policy", "Environmental Policy", "Science and Technology Policy" ] }