The EPA is granting two requests from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for waivers to implement and enforce its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations for light-duty vehicles, and its 鈥淥mnibus鈥� low-NOx regulation for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines. Under the Clean Air Act, California is afforded the ability to adopt emissions requirements independent from EPA鈥檚 regulations to meet its significant air quality challenges. The state must seek a waiver from EPA for new motor vehicle emission standards.
After reviewing the information provided by California, reviewing comments submitted by the public, and applying the limited criteria for waiver review under the Clean Air Act, EPA determined in each case that it would be appropriate to grant both waiver requests. The records, included in the waiver decisions, contain public comments on the programs鈥� feasibility, including costs to manufacturers and the lead time provided. EPA鈥檚 review found that opponents of the waivers did not meet their burden to show how either program is inconsistent with the Clean Air Act.
The ACC II program is a single coordinated package of requirements for model year 2026 through 2035 and beyond for on-road light- and medium-duty engines and vehicles. The ACC II regulations include revisions to both California鈥檚 Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) and Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations.
CARB projects that the ACC II program will reduce smog and soot-causing pollutants 鈥� including fine particulate matter (PM2.5) as well as oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC), which are precursors of ground-level ozone 鈥� as well as reduce greenhouse gases and toxic air pollutants.
CARB projects that its Low-NOx standards will protect communities from dangerous聽NOx pollution that mixes in the atmosphere to form ground-level ozone, commonly called 鈥渟mog,鈥� which can lead to costly and harmful health impacts such as increased illnesses, asthma attacks, lost days of work or school, and hospitalizations.