EPA Approves Waivers for California Truck Emissions Rules

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a decision that grants two requests for waivers of preemption regarding four California Air Resource Board (CARB) regulations related to California’s heavy-duty vehicle and engine emission standards. The new rules aim to accelerate the state’s shift to zero-emission heavy-duty trucks. Other states can also opt in to California’s emission rules, which are stricter than federal regulations intended to help address clean air issues.

The waivers of preemption address the following California programs:
 

• The 2018 Heavy-duty 2018 Warranty Amendments, which extend the emissions warranty periods for 2022 and subsequent model year on-road heavy-duty diesel engines and for 2022 and subsequent model year diesel vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating exceeding 14,000 pounds powered by such engines.
• The Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Regulation, which requires that manufacturers produce and sell increasing quantities of medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and near zero emission vehicles (NZEVs) in California. This waiver request also includes two additional regulations:
• The Zero Emission Airport Shuttle Bus (ZEAS) Regulation, which establishes steadily increasing zero-emission airport shuttle fleet composition requirements for airport shuttle fleet owners who service the 13 largest California airports.
• The Zero Emission Powertrain (ZEP) Certification Regulation, which establishes certification requirements and optional emission standards for 2021 and subsequent model year medium- and heavy-duty ZEVs and the zero-emission powertrains installed in such vehicles.

 
For more information on the EPA’s waiver actions and California waiver programs, visit here.