EPA Announces Largest Single Deregulatory Action in History

In 2009, the EPA issued the “Endangerment Finding” rule under the Clean Air Act. This rule applied to regulation of air pollutants if the EPA determined emissions from sources, including vehicles, as well as industrial facilities, endangered public health or welfare. In the initial ruling EPA concluded that six greenhouse gases — including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide — could contribute to climate change and endanger public health and welfare.This finding was the basis for federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.

By eliminating the Endangerment Finding at the federal level, states will now play a larger role in setting their own greenhouse gas policies. Currently, some states require stricter emissions standards than the EPA currently requires. With this ruling change, states may decide to relax requirements.

The EPA says this is the largest single deregulatory action in U.S. history and estimates it could save taxpayers over $1.3 trillion when applied to all greenhouse gas emissions requirements from industrial settings to vehicle requirements and recommendations. It also eliminates all off-cycle credits for vehicles. The process included a period of public input and analysis following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimonda and West Virginia v. EPA.