The U . S . Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) on Dec . 20 finalized the strongest-ever national clean air standards to cut smog- and soot-forming emissions from heavy-duty trucks beginning with model year 2027 . The new standards , the first update to clean air standards for heavy duty trucks in more than 20 years , are more than 80 % stronger than current standards .

This final rulemaking is the latest step toward implementing the Clean Truck Plan , which the agency says is moving America ’ s highly polluting heavy-duty trucking fleet towards low-carbon and electric technologies . Additionally , investments from President Biden ’ s Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are accelerating innovation in zero-emissions truck technology , expanding access to clean school and transit buses , and training workers to install and maintain charging infrastructure , the agency says .

“ EPA is taking significant action to protect public health , especially the health of 72 million people living near truck freight routes in America , including our most vulnerable populations in historically overburdened communities ,” said EPA Administrator Michael S . Regan . “ But we ’ re not stopping there . This is just the first action under EPA ’ s Clean Trucks Plan to pave the way toward a zeroemission future . These rigorous standards , coupled with historic investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law , will accelerate President Biden ’ s ambitious agenda to overhaul the nation ’ s trucking fleet , deliver cleaner air , and protect people and the planet .”

The final standards will reduce deadly smog and soot from new heavy-duty trucks starting with Model Year 2027 . EPA estimates that by 2045 , the rule will result in the following annual public health benefits :

• Up to 2,900 fewer premature deaths

• 6,700 fewer hospital admissions and emergency department visits

• 18,000 fewer cases of childhood asthma

• 3.1 million fewer cases of asthma symptoms and allergic rhinitis symptoms

• 78,000 fewer lost days of work

• 1.1 million fewer lost school days for children

• $ 29 billion in annual net benefits Relative to current rules , the new standards are more than 80 % stronger , increase useful life of governed vehicles by 1.5 – 2.5 times , and will yield emissions warranties that are 2.8 – 4.5 times longer . This final rule includes provisions for longer useful life and warranty periods . These provisions guarantee that as target vehicles age , they will continue to meet EPA ’ s more stringent emissions standards for a longer period of time . The rule also requires manufacturers to better ensure that vehicle engines and emission control systems work properly on the road . For example , manufacturers must demonstrate that engines are designed to prevent vehicle drivers from tampering with emission controls by limiting tamperprone access to electronic pollution controls .

This rulemaking is based on a robust , complete technical record consistent with the authority set forth in the Clean Air Act . EPA engaged a wide variety of stakeholders , including impacted communities , Tribal , state and local governments , industry leaders , environmental organizations , environmental justice organizations , labor groups , and others to develop final standards that are as strong as possible , take effect as soon as possible and will last as long as possible .

ACCELERATING A ZERO EMISSIONS FUTURE

This announcement is the first of three major actions being taken under EPA ’ s Clean Trucks Plan . In the coming months , EPA intends to release the proposals for the remaining two steps in the Clean Trucks Plan . These include the proposed “ Phase 3 ” greenhouse gas ( GHG ) standards for heavy-duty vehicles beginning in Model Year 2027 , as well as the proposed multipollutant standards for light- and medium-duty vehicles beginning in Model Year 2027 . These additional rulemakings will consider recent Congressional action , including historic resources for electrification from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that EPA anticipates will lead to swift adoption of zero-emission vehicle technologies . Taken together , these rulemakings will put in place stringent long-term standards that will reduce dangerous smog , soot , and climate pollution from heavy-duty vehicles .

Now that the Agency has taken this final action on reducing NOx emissions nationally from Heavy-Duty trucks , EPA will complete the assessment of the technical and legal record before the Agency and prioritize issuing decisions on the three pending Heavy-Duty program waiver requests from the State of California in early 2023 .

On August 5 , 2021 , EPA announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions and other harmful air pollutants from heavy-duty trucks through a series of rulemakings over the next three years . EPA ’ s “ Clean Trucks Plan ” would result in significant emissions reductions from new medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and will be major steps towards improving air quality and addressing the climate crisis .

The regulatory actions that make up the Clean Trucks Plan are as follows :

• Setting stronger nitrogen oxide ( NOx ) standards for heavy duty trucks beginning in model year ( MY ) 2027 and tightening the “ Phase 2 ” greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions for MY 2027 and beyond .

• Setting stronger emissions standards for medium-duty commercial vehicles for MY 2027 and later . These revised standards will be proposed in combination with new standards for light-duty vehicles for MY 2027 and beyond .

• Setting “ Phase 3 ” GHG standards for heavy-duty vehicles beginning as soon as MY 2030 that are significantly stronger than the MY 2027 GHG standards .

Taken together , these new multi-pollutant standards will improve public health in our communities and set the U . S . on a course to achieve ambitious levels of GHG emissions reductions from commercial highway transportation over the long term . l FON

Editor ’ s Note : The above text is from an announcement by the U . S . Environmental Protection Agency . It has been slightly edited .

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