Public hearings slated for three major cities by the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss proposals to weaken vehicle efficiency standards have been cancelled.
The EPA called off the hearings for Washington, D.C., Detroit and Los Angeles after it announced another proposed change to the Obama-era carbon pollution rule. Word of the change of plans was announced this week in the Federal Register.
The EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will instead hold two public hearings on the proposal, known as the SAFE Vehicles Rule, in Pittsburgh and Fresno, Calif., on Sept. 21 and 24 respectively.
The Trump administration’s Aug. 2 issuance of the rule, which aims to put a freeze on toughening standards for vehicle emissions first put in place under the Obama administration, sparked controversy. The administration argues that the emissions goals were too lofty and placed an unnecessary economic burden on car and light-weight truck manufacturers.