On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule disapproving of Clean Truck Check’s requirements on out-of-state trucks. The EPA found that the Clean Air Act allows the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to impose such requirements on trucks registered in California. However, the agency also found that extending those rules to out-of-state trucks violates the Commerce Clause, which prohibits states from interfering with interstate and international trade.
Of the more than 40 comments submitted, nearly 30 supported EPA’s disapproval of applying California’s Clean Truck Check to out-of-state vehicles. The California Trucking Association decided to play Switzerland. Rather than take a hard stance for or against EPA’s rule, the association suggested streamlining the current process. Conversely, state Assemblymember Stan Ellis, R-Bakersfield, went as far as to suggest scrapping the program entirely.