GASP Blasts EPA Revocation of Endangerment Finding, Urges Local Leaders to Step Up Climate Action

Trump’s EPA on Thursday announced the revocation of what’s known as the 2009 Endangerment Finding - one that resulted in greenhouse gas emissions regulations for motor vehicles and engines.

The Endangerment Finding is the legal prerequisite EPA used to regulate emissions from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines. Without the Endangerment Finding, the EPA would not have legal authority under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to set standards for greenhouse gas emissions.  

Without this finding, EPA loses its statutory authority to address the very real and accelerating threat of climate-altering pollution not just from our vehicles, but from all sources.

Like so many decisions from this regime, the rationale for this move seems to be based on how industry will benefit from this repeal – how it will supposedly save money and increase "consumer choice."

By contrast, the proposal was absurdly light on any details about the devastating impact it will have on the environment and, more importantly, on human health.

It’s clear the EPA has lost its way. The EPA's mission is to protect human health and the environment. Yet the systematic rollback of regulations like the endangerment finding and the willful disregard for scientific evidence, represents a truly dark age for this agency.

We are witnessing an abandonment of the EPA’s core purpose, a betrayal of the public trust, and a dangerous gamble with the health and well-being of current and future generations.

Local leadership is crucial now.  

GASP urges our municipal, city, county, and state policymakers to continue to treat climate change as the very real threat to public health that it is and to continue to act accordingly though prioritizing electrification of municipal fleets and finalizing and acting on climate change plans.

Pretending the threat does not exist is simply not an option.