In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week, Republican representatives of the House Energy and Commerce Committee lauded the process behind the new Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) Vehicle Rule.
“This rushed determination by [the previous] EPA represented a lack of commitment to the process set forth in 2012,” the letter said. “Thankfully, this Administration resumed a transparent and open process, and in March 2017, NHTSA and EPA announced they would reopen the Midterm Evaluation and work together as originally intended. This joint Notice of Proposed Rulemaking represents a commitment to a process that enables full consideration of up-to-date scientific data, market trends, technological advancements, and stakeholder input.”
U.S. Reps. Boba Latta (R-OH), John Shimkus (R-IL), and Fred Upton (R-MI) joined Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) in sending the letter.
The SAFE rule concerns corporate average fuel economy standards and light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards between the years 2021 and 2026.
Current standards have been a factor in the rising costs of new automobiles to an average of $35,000 or more, which is unattainable for many American families, according to a release by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“We are delivering on President Trump’s promise to the American public that his administration would address and fix the current fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards,” EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler said. “Our proposal aims to strike the right regulatory balance based on the most recent information and create a 50-state solution that will enable more Americans to afford newer, safer vehicles that pollute less.”
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking marks the first formal step in setting these model year standards, which all automakers will be required to meet.