![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Regulations and Standards
This Web page provides links to standards and regulations for controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new motor vehicles and their engines.
EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are taking coordinated steps to enable the production of a new generation of clean vehicles, through reduced GHG emissions and improved fuel use from on-road vehicles and engines, from the smallest cars to the largest trucks.
The agencies are proposing to extend the light-duty vehicle GHG National Program for model years 2017-2025.
The agencies have adopted first-ever GHG regulations for heavy-duty engines and vehicles.
These efforts are being carried out under requests from President Obama, and are supported by a broad range of stakeholders, including the State of California and major automobile and truck manufacturers. For more information, you may read the related presidential announcements and stakeholder commitment letters.
For information on regulations aimed at achieving significant reductions of GHG emissions through increased use of renewable fuels, visit EPA's Renewable Fuels Standard home page.
- Light-Duty Regulations
- Heavy-Duty Regulations
- Presidential Announcements and Stakeholder Commitment Letters
- Related Actions
Light-Duty Regulations
EPA and NHTSA have been working together on developing a National Program of harmonized regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy of light-duty vehicles. The agencies issued a Final Rulemaking establishing standards for 2012-2016 model year vehicles on April 1, 2010. The agencies are now proposing standards for model years 2017-2025.
- EPA/NHTSA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to Establish 2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and CAFE Standards
On November 16, 2011, EPA and NHTSA issued their joint proposal to extend the National Program of harmonized greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards to model year 2017 through 2025 passenger vehicles.
- Fact Sheet: EPA and NHTSA Propose to Extend the National Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Improve Fuel Economy for Cars and Trucks (PDF) (9 pp, 240K, EPA-420-F-11-038, November 2011)
- Proposed Rules (PDF) (567 pp, 13.4MB, published December 1, 2011)
- Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) (PDF) (377 pp, 4.05MB, EPA-420-D-11-004, November 2011)
- Draft Joint Technical Support Document (TSD) (PDF) (479 pp, 12MB, EPA-420-D-11-901, November 2011)
- Background information is available below, such as the Notice of Intent, the Interim Joint Technical Assessment Report, the Supplemental NOI and the 2nd Supplemental NOI.
- See the Tools, Analysis, & Publications page for additional documents supporting the agencies' technical assessment for this proposal.
Extension of the Comment Period
- Comment Period Extension Notice (PDF) (2 pp. 149k, published January 13, 2012)
NHTSA and EPA have extended the comment period for the proposal by 14 days. The comment period, originally set to end on January 30, 2012, will now end on February 13, 2012.
Public Participation Opportunities
-
We welcome your comments on this proposal. All comments will become part of the public docket and will be available online at www.regulations.gov. The notice for this proposal was published in the Federal Register on December 1, 2011. The comment period will remain open until February 13, 2012.
Information on Public Hearings
-
NHTSA and EPA will jointly hold three public hearings, each beginning at 10 am local time. The hearing notice describes how to register to testify and provides more information about submitting written comments.
- Tuesday, January 17, 2012: Courtyard Detroit Downtown, 333 East Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226
- Thursday, January 19, 2012: Crowne Plaza Philadelphia Downtown, 1800 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Tuesday. January 24, 2012, Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf, 555 North Point Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
- Announcement of Public Hearing (PDF) (2 pp, 144K, published December 9, 2011)
- Second Supplemental Notice of Intent to Establish 2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and CAFE Standards
On July 29, 2011, EPA and NHTSA issued a Supplemental Notice of Intent (NOI) announcing plans to propose stringent federal greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for model year (MY) 2017-2025 light-duty vehicles as part of a coordinated National Program.
- Fact Sheet: EPA and NHTSA, in Coordination with California, Announce Plans to Propose Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks (PDF) (4 pp, 166K, EPA-420-F-11-027, July 2011)
- Second Supplemental Notice of Intent (PDF) (12 pp, 937K, published August 9, 2011)
- Read the Presidential Announcement and the commitment letters received in July 2011 from California and 13 automakers, expressing support for this effort.
- Supplemental Notice of Upcoming Joint Rulemaking to Establish 2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and CAFE Standards
On November 30, 2010, EPA and NHTSA issued a Supplemental Notice of Intent (NOI) to begin developing new standards for greenhouse gas (GHG) and fuel economy for light-duty vehicles in model years (MY) 2017-2025.
- Fact Sheet: EPA and NHTSA Issue a Supplemental Notice in the Process for Setting Future Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Economy Standards for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks | PDF Version (3 pp, 487K, EPA-420-F-10-059, November 2010)
- Notice | PDF Version (9 pp, 178K, published December 8, 2010)
- Notice of Intent to Establish 2017 and Later Model Year Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and CAFE Standards
On September 30, 2010, EPA and NHTSA issued a Notice of Intent to begin developing new standards for greenhouse gases and fuel economy for light-duty vehicles for the 2017-2025 model years. The agencies also issued, in coordination with California, an Interim Joint Technical Assessment Report. The beginning of this effort was announced by President Obama in May 2010, with broad support from stakeholders.
- Fact Sheet: EPA and NHTSA Announce a First Step in the Process for Setting Future Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Economy Standards | PDF Version (4 pp, 651K, EPA-420-F-10-051, October 2010)
- Notice | PDF Version (12 pp, 117K, published October 13, 2010)
- Interim Joint Technical Assessment Report: Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2017-2025 (PDF) (245 pp, 2.46MB, September 2010)
- California Air Resources Board's Letter of Support (PDF) (3 pp, 48K, October 1, 2010)
- See the President’s Announcement and the commitment letters received in May 2010, expressing support for this effort.
- Final Rulemaking: Model Year 2012-2016 Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards (published May 7, 2010)
The final combined EPA and NHTSA standards that make up the first phase of this National Program apply to passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles, covering model years 2012 through 2016.
- Fact Sheet: EPA and NHTSA Finalize First-Ever National Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improve Fuel Economy For Cars and Trucks | PDF Version (9 pp, 189K, EPA-420-F-10-014, April 2010)
- Final Rule | PDF Version (406 pp, 5.61MB, May 7, 2010)
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) (PDF) (474 pp, 5.8MB, EPA-420-R-10-009, April 2010)
- Joint Technical Support Document (TSD) (PDF) (215 pp, 2.9M, EPA-420-R-10-901, April 2010)
- EPA Response to Comments (841 pp, 3.3MB, EPA-420-R-10-012a, April 2010) NOTE: Chapter 3 of this document was updated on April 15, 2010.
- See the Tools, Analysis, & Publications page for the documents related to the Light-Duty Technology Cost Analysis.
- See Proposed Emission Standards for the proposed rule, fact sheet and regulatory support documents, including the public hearing transcripts and the notice of intent issued May 2009.
- See the Presidential Announcement and commitment letters received in 2009 from California and automakers, expressing support for this effort.
Heavy-Duty Regulations
The complementary EPA and NHTSA standards that make up the Heavy-Duty National Program apply to combination tractors (semi trucks), heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, and vocational vehicles (including buses and refuse or utility trucks). Together, these standards will cut greenhouse gas emissions and domestic oil use significantly. This program responds to President Obama’s 2010 request to jointly establish greenhouse gas emissions and fuel efficiency standards for the medium- and heavy-duty highway vehicle sector.
- HD GHG Implementation Workshop – On November 3, 2011, EPA conducted a workshop on the certification process for medium- and heavy-duty engines and vehicles to comply with greenhouse gas emissions standards and fuel efficiency standards. Below are presentations from the workshop. Further details are provided in the guidance letter issued October 6, 2011.
- Implementation Workshop Questions and Answers
- Implementation Work Shop Questions and Answers, Third Edition (PDF) (14 pp, 620k, EPA-420-F-12-004a, February 2012)
- Workshop Presentations
- Overview of Greenhouse Gas Emission Requirements for Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles (PDF) (13 pp, 165k, November 3, 2011)
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Requirements for Heavy-Duty Pickup Trucks and Vans (PDF) (35 pp, 262k, November 3, 2011)
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Requirements for Heavy-Duty Engines (PDF) (47 pp, 252k, November 3, 2011)
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Requirements for Combination Tractors and Vocational Vehicles (PDF) (72 pp, 483k, November 3, 2011)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (PDF) (1 pp, 36k, November 3, 2011)
- Final Rulemaking: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles (signed August 9, 2011)
- Fact Sheet: EPA and NHTSA Adopt First-Ever Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Improve Fuel Efficiency of Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles (PDF) (8 pp, 661K, EPA-420-F-11-031, August 2011)
- Fact Sheet: Paving the Way Toward Cleaner, More Efficient Trucks (PDF) (3 pp, 141K, EPA-420-F-11-032, August 2011)
- Final Rule (PDF) (408 pp, 4.78MB, published September 15, 2011)
- Final Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) (PDF) (553 pp, 9.12MB, EPA-420-R-11-901, August 2011)
- Heavy-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for Air Quality Modeling Technical Support Document (PDF) (51 pp, 477K, EPA-420-R-11-008, August 2011)
- Air Quality Modeling Technical Support Document: Heavy-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards Final Rule (PDF) (148 pp, 5.58MB, EPA-454-R-11-004, August 2011)
- Response to Comments (1,117 pp, 4.82MB, EPA-420-R-11-004, August 2011)
- Greenhouse gas Emissions Model (GEM) for determining truck compliance
- See the GEM web page to learn about the model architecture and how to use the model.
- See Previously Proposed Emission Standards to read the regulatory support documents for the proposed heavy-duty rulemaking.
Related Actions
EPA is responsible for developing and implementing regulations to ensure that transportation fuel sold in the United States contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel. The Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) program was created under the Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005, and expanded under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). The expanded RFS program lays the foundation for achieving significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions from the use of renewable fuels, for reducing imported petroleum, and encouraging the development and expansion of our nation's renewable fuels sector. The link below provides more information about the program, including regulations and compliance assistance.
In June 2009, the Administrator granted a Clean Air Act waiver of preemption to California. This waiver will allow California to implement its own greenhouse gas emission standards for motor vehicles beginning with model year 2009.
On December 7, 2009, the Administrator promulgated an action with the distinct finding that the current and projected concentrations of the six key well-mixed greenhouse gases--carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) -- in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations. This is referred to as the endangerment finding.
The Administrator also found that the greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines contribute to the atmospheric concentrations of these key greenhouse gases and hence to the threat of climate change. This is referred to as the cause or contribute finding.