Press Release

December 20, 2022

EPA Final Rule Strengthens Heavy Duty Vehicles Emission Standards

"This rule will have important environmental justice benefits as it cleans up the air in overburdened communities"

STATEMENT BY ANN JAWORSKI, STAFF ATTORNEY
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER

“The Environmental Law & Policy Center welcomes EPA’s final rule that sets more stringent emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks and buses, starting in model year 2027. Nitrogen Oxide pollution from heavy-duty vehicles harms lungs, and contributes to the formation of particulate matter and ozone, two other dangerous pollutants. This rule will have important environmental justice benefits as it cleans up the air in overburdened communities that are crossed by trucking routes and dotted with logistics facilities.

“While more work is needed to ensure the cleanest possible vehicles and cleanest air for all, the rule announced today takes important steps both to ensure that emissions are reduced, and that these reductions are maintained for the life of the vehicle. The rule also reduces emissions that occur when trucks are traveling at lower speeds, when they often are closest to people but have produced the greatest emissions per mile traveled. ELPC looks forward to EPA continuing to take action to reduce vehicle pollution with its proposal for greenhouse gas emission standards from model year 2027+ heavy duty vehicles planned to be released by March, and with future standards to further reduce health-harming pollution like nitrogen oxides.”