SACRAMENTO, California — California’s efforts to limit pollution from diesel-powered trains and big oil rigs have stalled pending pushback from the incoming Trump administration.
The California Air Resources Board said Tuesday it has withdrawn its requests for federal approval to implement stricter emissions rules for locomotives and semi-trucks because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had yet to approve them. The decision came just days before Democratic President Joe Biden left office.
During his first administration, Trump tried to thwart several climate efforts in California, including rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation sources.
One of the rules California pulled after the EPA failed to approve it would have phased out the sale of new products diesel-powered semi-trucks and buses by 2036. The Air Resources Board approved the ordinance in 2023. Another rule, which the agency approved the same month, would prohibited locomotive engines be more than 23 years old by 2030 and have increased the use of zero-emission technology to move freight from ports and across rail yards.
Both rules were opposed by the industry because they were costly mandates that would be difficult to implement.
Liane Randolph, chairman of the Air Resources Board, said the agency is assessing its options to continue its efforts to curb global warming emissions and improve air quality, but gave no details on what comes next.
“While we are disappointed that the U.S. EPA was unable to respond to all requests in a timely manner, the withdrawal is an important step given the uncertainty of the new administration, which previously attacked California’s programs to protect public health and the climate, saying that she will continue to do so. to oppose those programs,” Randolph said in a statement.
Mike Alpern, spokesman for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region, said the agency would take no further action on the rules.
California has long had the authority to set emissions standards that are stricter than federal rules. During Trump’s first term, his administration challenged that authority. But last year a federal court confirmed California’s ability to establish leading national regulations on vehicle emissions. The EPA last month granted California the authority to enforce a rule ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars in the state by 2035.
Karoline Leavitt, spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, did not comment on California’s withdrawal of the waiver requests, but said the new president would work to improve air and water quality during his second presidency.
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Austin is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on Twitter: @ sophieadanna