President Donald Trump on Monday signed a presidential memo that seeks to pare back enforcement for people who adjust vehicles’ emissions systems.
The directive calls on EPA, under the Clean Air Act, to issue guidance clarifying what actions people can take on their own car’s emissions. It also seeks clarity on what aftermarket parts can be used in repairs. The memo cites the certification process for aftermarket parts used by the California Air Resources Board, which it says is “the only certification process for aftermarket parts currently recognized as sufficient” under the Clean Air Act.
The memo also directs EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to not prioritize civil enforcement actions against people who “in good faith, attempt to fix their own vehicles to their original configuration.”
Zeldin stood by Trump in the Oval Office as the president signed the memo, which argues that consumers face regulatory uncertainty on whether certain auto parts can be used in repairs because of the Clean Air Act’s prohibition on tampering with emissions controls.
