US EPA Rescinds Endangerment Findings and Motor Vehicle GHG Standards
- Feb 13
- 1 min read
On February 12, 2026, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) rescinded its 2009 “endangerment finding,” as well as several related motor vehicle greenhouse gas (“GHG”) standards. The 2009 finding, published in the Federal Register on December 15, 2009, under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0171, found that: “[GHGs] in the atmosphere threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.”
The 2026 rescission, said by the EPA to be “…the single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history,” might have several immediate and long-term ramifications. The rescission eliminates motor vehicle emission standards, which might reduce vehicle costs, increase fuel costs, and increase emissions. The rescission also may have future implications for emissions standards for aircraft, power plants, and oil and gas operations. Another potential consequence is a possible increase in lawsuits and claims against significant emitters of GHGs, as the endangerment finding was grounded in the federal Clean Air Act (“CAA”), and the EPA’s 2009 exercise of its CAA authority had displaced some federal law claims over GHG emissions.
The rescission rule becomes effective on April 20, 2026.
The EPA’s Final Rule may be found here:
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