For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Anjuli.Ramos@sierraclub.org
EPA’s Heavy Duty Truck Rule is Good Start But Must Do More
EPA is holding a virtual public hearing for the Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine and Vehicle Standards Proposed Rule. The proposed standards would significantly reduce emissions of smog- and soot-forming nitrogen oxides (NOx) from heavy-duty gasoline and diesel engines and set more stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for certain commercial vehicle categories. Anjuli Ramos, New Jersey Director of the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“This proposed rule has monumental implications because it sets the stage for trucks and buses that will be on the road for the next 20 years. To put that into a clearer perspective, that is after 2050. We all know the immediate and drastic action required by all of us on a national, state and local scale in order to tackle climate change, and to try to mitigate as much as possible of the already incoming disastrous environmental and community impacts. Thus, clean buses and trucks policy, which has not seen a change since 20 years ago, will have a massive impact on this necessary climate action.
EPA’s proposed rule has requirements that do not come into effect until 2031 in order for technology to be fully available. Plenty of data shows, however, that this technology is already here and ready for use. Currently, there are over 100 models of zero emissions trucks and buses available and more coming in the future. The technology is here, now we just need the policy and standards to match it. As further evidence of this, there are already 6 States in the country that have adopted clean truck policies that go above and beyond the EPA’s proposal.
These states, my State being one of them, to name them: California; Oregon; Washington; New York; New Jersey; and Massachusetts, account for 20% of the truck market. However, the proposed EPA rule would only yield 1.5% of zero-emission new truck sales by 2027. To be specific, these 6 State policies will yield 40 to 75% of new zero-emissions truck sales by 2035.
The US EPA can and must do more, because of three main reasons: 1) the technology is available; 2) other States are already doing it; and 3) most importantly, so all communities in the country, not just the ones from States with adequate clean truck policies, and especially those communities that are overburdened with pollution and economically disadvantaged, benefit from the same targets towards cleaner air. It is what is fair, equal clean air.
New Jersey’s transportation sector accounts for 42% of greenhouse gas emissions, the largest contributor, to which medium duty and heavy duty vehicles, aka buses and trucks, account for a significant portion. Of course, that equally means a huge contribution of co-pollutants: NOx, Particulate Matter (PM), black carbon, a subset of PM, and other air toxics like benzene. The latest available data by NJ’s State Department of Environmental Protection indicates that the highest carcinogenic risk driver in our State is diesel PM with a maximum predicted risk of 1,447 in a million, and a range of 100 to 300 in a million risk in the heavily trafficked areas like those surrounding I-95. These risk estimates are based on EPA’s NATA or National Air Toxics Assessment data, your data.
Although New Jersey will benefit from the clean truck rule recently adopted, federal action is absolutely necessary in order to move the manufacturers into a zero-emissions market. When we holistically move the market, everything else follows. Climate action cannot wait, and this proposed rule, if done correctly, will significantly deliver to the effort.”
Comments on the proposed rule are due on May 13th and can be submitted through this website.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey.