The Trump administration is said to have appealed a federal court ruling that blocked the EPA from sending California’s landmark vehicle emissions rules to the Republican-controlled Congress for a fast-track repeal.
On September 2, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington ruled the EPA had acted improperly by sending four waivers in June to Congress for review, including rules enacting stricter emissions standards for cars and trucks as well as for lawn-and-garden equipment.
In June, the EPA said the vehicle emissions waivers granted to California under prior Democratic administrations should have been sent to lawmakers under the Congressional Review Act, which would allow the U.S. Senate to repeal them by a simple majority rather than the 60 votes needed for most legislation.
Separately, the U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote as soon as this week to repeal California environmental rules on ocean-going vessels and commercial harbor craft, despite Howell's ruling Friday that declared the EPA's transmission of those rules to Congress in July improper, Reuters reported.
Last year, Congress revoked California’s authority to ban new gasoline-powered vehicles after 2035, following lobbying by Toyota (TM), General Motors (GM) and other automakers seeking relief from the state’s emissions rules.