Congressional Oversight Needed for EPA’s CARB Waiver

Today, the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials will hold a hearing to discuss the California Air Resource Board’s (CARB) regulations on diesel locomotives. The regulation in question would impose draconian, unworkable standards and adversely impact supply chains across the country.

Because of the nature of the regulation, CARB had to request a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency in order to implement it. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) led a letter with more than thirty individuals and organizations to urge the EPA to oppose this waiver.

Analysis from TPA, National Review, and The Wall Street Journal have shown how devastating such a regulation would be. Letting states implement regulations that necessarily impact interstate commerce would impact more than just the residents of California. Anyone who depends on supplies that travel from or through the state of California would feel the costs.

The Biden administration’s EPA should no longer be in the habit of letting California regulators do their heavy lifting for them. Members of the committee should hone in one this practice and highlight the unworkability of making America’s supply chain comply with a patchwork of 50 different regulatory frameworks.

You can find resources from TPA on this issue below:

TPA’s blog analyzing the CARB waiver request – HERE

TPA’s letter to the EPA urging opposition to the CARB waiver – HERE