The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to propose fuel efficiency standards starting with model year 2016 commercial medium- and heavy-duty on-highway vehicles, and said it will prepare and environmental impact statements as part of the procedure.
In a Federal Register notice dated June 14, NHTSA said it will undertake an EIS to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the proposed medium- and heavy-duty fuel efficiency standards and reasonable alternative standards pursuant to federal law.
The Obama administration said last month that it was charging EPA and the Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency with collaborating on a rule setting limits on the fuel consumed and emissions produced by large commercial vehicles. (Click here for previous coverage.)
The impact statement will compare the potential environmental impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s preferred alternative and reasonable alternatives, including a “no action” alternative, said NHTSA, which is part of DOT.
To view the Federal Register request, click here (Federal Register Web site).
To comment on the rule, visit www.regulations.gov and enter Docket No. fr14jn10-20.
