Full Breakdown
EPA Reconsiders Texas Air Regulations Amid Diesel-Price Surge
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will “reconsider” several air-quality rules affecting Texas after the state declared a disaster over record-high diesel prices. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin sent a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott indicating the agency will review the 2015 ozone non-attainment designations and the Biden-era disapproval of Texas’s compliance plans under the Clean Air Act. The move follows Abbott’s emergency proclamation that expands the use of dyed diesel on public roads and suspends the Texas Low Emission Diesel (TxLED) program where the EPA permits.
Background & Context
Governor Abbott issued a statewide disaster proclamation to address “severe fuel supply tightness” and diesel prices that have risen sharply. The proclamation lifts restrictions on the weight of fuel, agricultural, and timber loads and asks the EPA to waive federal ultra-low-sulfur diesel requirements. The action is intended to lower costs for Texas agriculture and freight operators, which rely heavily on diesel fuel.
Official Statements & Responses
Lee Zeldin said, “Texas should not be unfairly punished with burdensome requirements,” emphasizing the agency’s intent to work with the state while it reviews the rules. Abbott asserted that “Record prices put both industries at risk and raise costs for every Texas family,” and added that “Texas agriculture and freight run on diesel,” underscoring the economic pressure on farmers and truckers.
Data & Statistics
- National diesel averages about $6.40 per gallon.
- Prices are roughly 84 cents higher than a month earlier and $2.76 higher than a year earlier.
- The disaster proclamation permits diesel loads up to 95,000 pounds and temporarily suspends TxLED rules in 110 Texas counties.
What’s Next
Congress is debating a Senate proposal, backed by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and other farm-state Republicans, to embargo diesel exports in an effort to increase domestic supply. The White House has denied plans for a 90-day diesel export ban. Meanwhile, the EPA’s review of Texas’s ozone and diesel standards will proceed, though no timeline has been set for a final decision.