August 2, 2018 (BOSTON) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement today in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rollback of the nation’s successful clean car emissions standards and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) proposed backtracking of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards.
“The EPA and NHTSA are prioritizing fossil fuel interests over the health of our communities,” said CLF Staff Attorney Emily K. Green. “Strong vehicle emissions standards are critical to addressing climate change, and weakening them will put the health of millions of Americans at risk. This decision disproportionately harms the most vulnerable among us, while forcing families and businesses to pay more at the pump. We will continue to fight this rollback with every tool available.”
The agencies are also proposing to revoke the exemption that allows California and other states to adopt more progressive requirements. The weakening of clean car standards will hurt all Americans, but EPA’s attack on states’ authority is particularly troubling for New England, where five of six states have moved beyond the EPA to protect the health of their citizens.
Last month, CLF and several other environmental organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the reversal of these landmark standards. As of today, the EPA and NHTSA are accepting comments on the rollback.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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