The US Supreme Court will hear a challenge by fuel producers against California's vehicle emissions standards, which were allowed by a Biden administration waiver under the Clean Air Act. The case will determine if fuel producers have legal standing to contest the waiver, which they argue affects their business by promoting electric vehicles over gas-powered ones. This challenge follows a history of California receiving waivers to set stricter emissions standards, a practice reinstated by the Biden administration after being rescinded by Trump. The outcome could impact future challenges to environmental regulations.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case challenging California's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards, a provision allowed under the Clean Air Act due to the state's unique pollution issues. This follows a legal battle initiated when the Trump administration revoked California's waiver for stricter standards, a decision reversed by the Biden administration. Ohio and 16 other states argue the waiver violates the constitutional principle of state equality, while environmental groups claim the lawsuit aims to undermine the Clean Air Act. The D.C. Circuit Court previously upheld the EPA's authority to grant such waivers.
The Supreme Court will hear a case challenging California's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards, which impact greenhouse gas regulations. The case focuses on whether business interests, like liquid fuel companies, have legal standing to sue, arguing that California's rules reduce demand for their products. The court will not address the broader issue of California's right to set these standards, which the EPA has historically allowed through waivers. The Biden administration supports California's regulations, which aim for all vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is urging President Joe Biden to approve Clean Air Act waivers before Donald Trump takes office, as Trump plans to revoke California's authority to enforce its pollution rules. Newsom's push includes eight waivers covering various emissions regulations. While Biden's approval could delay Trump's revocation process, the Trump administration could easily deny any pending requests. California officials remain hopeful, citing past approvals during the Obama administration, while industry groups focus on adapting to potential regulatory changes.
The Supreme Court's conservative majority appears poised to block the Biden administration's "good neighbor" plan, which aims to curtail air pollution that drifts across state lines. The plan requires states to take measures to reduce emissions causing smog and linked to health issues. If halted, the ruling would limit the administration's environmental protection efforts, aligning with recent court decisions that have curtailed the EPA's authority in addressing climate change and water pollution.
The Supreme Court, particularly its conservative justices, expressed skepticism about the EPA's cross-state air pollution rule during oral arguments, questioning the agency's consideration of potential changes if certain states were excluded due to litigation. The rule, aimed at reducing air pollution across 23 states, has faced legal challenges, with court rulings currently limiting its coverage to 11 states. The case has prompted debate over the need for Supreme Court intervention before lower courts make final rulings, with industry groups and GOP-led states arguing against the rule's potential economic impact and the Biden administration emphasizing the importance of emission reductions for downwind states.
The Supreme Court is considering whether to block a Biden administration policy aimed at reducing air pollution that crosses state lines, with three Republican-led states and various industries challenging the "good neighbor" plan introduced by the EPA. The policy seeks to curb nitrogen oxide pollution from industrial facilities in 23 "upwind" states that contribute to pollution in "downwind" states. The court's conservative majority has been skeptical of broad federal regulatory power, and the policy has already been blocked in 12 of the 23 states it applies to. The EPA defends the rule, stating that it is in "full force" and able to "function properly" in the 11 states where it is in effect.
Diesel engine manufacturer Cummins has agreed to pay a record $1.675 billion to settle civil cases brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and the state of California for allegedly using "defeat devices" to bypass emissions laws in hundreds of thousands of engines. The settlement, the largest ever for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, involves the recall of over 900,000 RAM pickups to update their emissions software. Cummins did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement but remains committed to its zero-emissions future strategy.
Cummins will recall and repair over 600,000 Ram vehicles equipped with its diesel engines as part of a $2 billion federal settlement over allegations of installing emissions test bypassing software. The company will pay a $1.675 billion civil penalty and an additional $325 million for remedies, marking the largest ever settlement under the Clean Air Act. The recall will remove defeat devices from affected Ram pickup trucks from 2013-2019 model years, bringing them into compliance with Clean Air Act standards.
Cummins Inc. will recall 600,000 Ram trucks as part of a settlement with federal and California authorities over illegal software that allowed the vehicles to skirt diesel emissions tests. The settlement includes a $2 billion penalty and requires the company to remedy environmental damage caused by the emissions cheating. This recall follows similar cases involving other automakers, highlighting the ongoing efforts to enforce emissions standards and protect public health from harmful pollutants.
Cummins Inc. will recall 600,000 Ram trucks equipped with illegal software that allowed them to cheat diesel emissions tests, as part of a $2 billion settlement with federal and California authorities. The settlement also includes a $1.675 billion civil penalty and $325 million for pollution remedies. The recall affects trucks from 2013 through 2019 model years, with additional trucks from 2019 through 2023 having unreported emissions control software. This comes after similar emissions cheating cases involving Volkswagen, Fiat Chrysler, and Daimler in recent years, highlighting the ongoing challenges in enforcing emissions standards in the automotive industry.
Cummins Inc. will recall 600,000 Ram trucks as part of a settlement with federal and California authorities over illegal software that allowed the vehicles to skirt diesel emissions tests. The settlement includes a $1.675 billion civil penalty, the largest ever under the Clean Air Act, and requires Cummins to remedy environmental damage. The trucks, manufactured by Stellantis, had diesel engines equipped with software that limited nitrogen oxide pollution during tests but allowed higher pollution during normal operations. This recall follows several other notable emissions cheating cases in the auto industry, including Volkswagen's Dieselgate scandal.
The Department of Justice has reached a settlement with engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. that includes a mandatory recall of 600,000 Ram trucks due to illegal installation of emissions control software, resulting in a $1.675 billion civil penalty, the largest ever under the Clean Air Act. Cummins is accused of circumventing emissions testing and must also pay $325 million for remedies. The settlement aims to address environmental damage caused by excess emissions and serves as a warning against corporate cheating.
The Department of Justice has ordered a recall of 600,000 Ram trucks as part of a settlement with engine maker Cummins Inc., which illegally installed emissions control software in the vehicles. Cummins will pay a $2 billion penalty, the largest ever under the Clean Air Act, to remedy environmental damage caused by the illegal software. The settlement aims to address the harmful impact of excess emissions of nitrogen oxides and underscores the importance of compliance with emission limits to protect the environment and human health. This case follows similar emissions cheating scandals involving other auto industry players, highlighting the need for stringent enforcement and deterrents to prioritize public health and environmental protection.
Cummins Inc, a truck engine maker, has agreed in principle to pay a $1.675 billion penalty for installing emissions defeat devices on hundreds of thousands of engines, making it the largest-ever penalty for a Clean Air Act violation. The U.S. Justice Department alleges that Cummins installed defeat devices on 630,000 RAM pickup truck engines and undisclosed auxiliary emission control devices on 330,000 other engines. The agreement resolves allegations that the company unlawfully altered engines to bypass emissions tests. Cummins expects to take a $2.04 billion charge in the fourth quarter to resolve regulatory claims on nearly 1 million engines.
