Chamber Applauds Denial of California Greenhouse Gas Waiver Request

Decision by EPA Halts Potential Economic and Regulatory Train Wreck

WASHINGTON, D.C.— William Kovacs, vice president of environment, technology, and regulatory affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, made the following statement today regarding the EPA's decision to deny California's waiver request to regulate vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.

"This decision is a common-sense way of addressing what is a very complex situation. It demonstrates that the judicious expansion of well-established programs, such as the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) program, is the most practical and effective way to enhance domestic energy security and meaningfully affect greenhouse gas emissions. The denial of California's waiver request ensures that every American consumer can drive his or her car, undeterred, in every state in the union.

"Administrator Johnson wisely recognizes that the Clean Air Act is intended to regulate industrial pollutants, such as lead, mercury and particulate matter. It is not structured to regulate CO2 emissions, which are expelled by virtually every living and nonliving source in the entire world. For instance, regulation of vehicles and fuels under the existing framework of the Clean Air Act – without a "hold harmless" clause like the one Congress placed in the renewable fuels title of the energy bill – would trigger onerous permitting and construction requirements for virtually any building in the U.S. that emits a relatively small amount of CO2.

"We hope EPA will build on this decision and formally find that implementation of the Energy Independence and Security Act addresses all of EPA's obligations under Massachusetts v. EPA. For EPA to do otherwise and foolishly attempt to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, would cause an economic and regulatory train wreck that could completely shut down all construction in the United States for the foreseeable future."

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation, representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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