EPA Criticized for ‘Flood of Regulations’

Senate Republicans used a committee hearing to oppose several U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandates, including new standards for light-duty vehicles and heavy-duty trucks.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday, May 8, to discuss the fiscal year 2025 budget.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., told Regan she is disappointed with the direction of the EPA since he became administrator in 2021.

“Given your background in state government, I really had some hope that you would lead the EPA with policies that were based on reality … and maintain a healthy perspective on the hardworking American families who work and live under your regulations,” said Lummis. “But that didn’t happen. What we are seeing from the EPA and this administration is a flood of regulations that you know will lead to scarcity and higher costs.”

EPA’s emissions standards

Earlier this year, the EPA issued final rules that apply new emissions standards to light-duty vehicles and heavy-duty trucks.

According to the EPA, final truck emissions standards will avoid approximately 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions between 2027 and 2055. The federal government also claims that heavy industry will realize annual savings of $3.5 billion, compared to annual costs of about $3.5 billion. $1.1 billion.

Republicans in the House of Representatives and Senate recently introduced Congressional Review Act resolutions to dismantle the final rules for light vehicles and heavy trucks.

Lummis, co-sponsor of both resolutions, said the EPA is overstepping regulations that force the general public and motor carriers to switch to electric vehicles.

“It’s astonishing that the federal government is telling Americans what kind of vehicles they should drive and pushing an agenda that doesn’t work outside major metropolitan areas,” she said.

Opponents of the mandates point to technological problems, the lack of charging infrastructure and the costs.

“Wyoming is a rural, high-elevation state of nearly 100,000 square miles with famously harsh weather conditions,” Lummis said. “People in Wyoming often drive long distances. My ranch and my ranch are 400 miles apart, yet they are still in Wyoming. Their livelihood depends on affordable and reliable vehicles. That means a car or truck that runs on gasoline or diesel. The average electric car is more than €10,000 more expensive than the average petrol car. And they don’t work at heights. When it’s that cold they don’t work. And they don’t work if you can’t charge them, because there are no charging stations.”

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., also criticized the EPA’s diesel exhaust fluid regulations.

“You talk about pushing for better fuel efficiency, but the rule you impose on diesel trucks – which I drive every day – makes us put diesel exhaust fluid in them. It reduces our (fuel) mileage and is actually worse for the environment,” said Mullin. LL

Land Line Associate Editor Tyson Fisher contributed to this report.