EDF Calls on EPA to Protect Americans’ Health from Super-Polluting Glider Trucks at Public Hearing Today

(Washington, D.C. – December 4, 2017)  EDF joined dozens of Americans at a public hearing in Washington, DC today to oppose Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt’s proposed rollback of emission limits for high-polluting heavy-duty freight trucks.

EDF Senior Attorney Martha Roberts was among those calling on Pruitt to end his efforts to create a legal loophole for super-polluting glider trucks, and instead to start putting the health of American families first. 

“America has made tremendous progress in reducing tailpipe pollution, using made in America solutions. We have protected our children’s health and positioned American companies as world leaders in pollution control innovations,” said Roberts. “Pruitt’s actions put this progress at risk, imperiling our families and communities through unprecedented rollbacks at a time when we should be moving forward to save lives and create jobs.”

Today’s hearing addresses standards for glider trucks, which are heavy-duty freight trucks that typically lack modern pollution controls. Glider trucks can emit harmful soot and smog-causing pollutants – including oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter, as well as cancer-causing diesel particulate – at a rate forty times that of new freight trucks. 

EPA took action in the 2016 Clean Truck Standards to curb emissions from these super-polluting freight trucks, but Pruitt is now trying to reopen a loophole and allow glider trucks to evade modern pollution controls.

More than sixty people signed up to testify at today’s hearing, including representatives from the American Lung Association, the American Thoracic Society, and Moms Clean Air Force – whose members testified about the impact this rollback would have on their children’s health.

Representatives from the heavy-duty freight truck industry also opposed Pruitt’s proposed rollback at today’s hearing – including speakers from Volvo, the Engine Manufacturers Association, the American Trucking Association, and the Heavy Duty Fuel Efficiency Leadership Group. Freight truck manufacturers have raised concerns that allowing glider trucks to evade pollution standards creates an unlevel playing field that disadvantages companies that have responsibly invested in pollution controls.

Many of those testifying today also expressed support for the Clean Power Plan and other clean air standards that protect American families and communities. Pruitt’s efforts to repeal lifesaving pollution limits – not only for dirty trucks, but also for power plants and other sectors – puts the health and well-being of all Americans at risk. 

EDF was also represented at today’s hearing by Erin Murphy, Surbhi Sarang, and John Bullock. You can read full testimonies from each of them here:

• Martha Roberts
• Erin Murphy
• Surbhi Sarang
• John Bullock

EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed repeal of the safeguards against glider truck pollution until January 5^th.