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Talks to avoid a messy legal fight over California's emissions rules appear stalled - Duration: 11:51.
Talks between the Trump administration and California over rules requiring automakers to steadily decrease car emissions are no closer to reaching a deal than when they began months ago, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle
Behind the scenes, negotiations have been largely cosmetic and unproductive, according to officials in Washington and California with direct knowledge of the talks
Advertisement > Unlike the Obama-era negotiations that led to the creation of national fuel efficiency and emissions standards, the current talks have lacked detailed technical analysis and regular input from the agencies' career staff, according to the officials, who declined to be named, citing the sensitivity of the discussions
Instead, administration officials have repeated the same set of talking points or steered the conversation to small talk, they said
Several officials briefed on the discussions said they were reluctant even to describe them as negotiations, given the lack of substance
And partly because of the 35-day partial government shutdown, the last discussion between the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation and California Air Resources Board took place nearly two months ago on Dec
4, according to EPA spokeswoman Molly Block. "I've seen a lot of going through the motions," said Jody Freeman, a Harvard environmental law professor who is not involved in the current talks but worked on the first set of national vehicle emissions standards under President Obama
During those negotiations, Freeman said she required agency staff with technical expertise to be deeply involved
"I haven't seen, through this entire process, the signs of a real push by the auto industry or the administration to get to agreement [with California]," she said
California and senior administration officials began far apart and there they remain
Last year the EPA announced plans to relax fuel economy and tailpipe emission rules put in place during the Obama administration that were designed to cut down on planet-warming greenhouse gases
California vowed to plow ahead, holding tight to its legal authority to maintain stricter standards
Despite their differences, the two sides began talking quietly last year in an attempt to avoid a court battle that could leave automakers subject to conflicting regulations and divide the market between states that follow California's requirements for cleaner cars and states using the Trump administration's scaled-back standard
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have adopted California's rules, accounting for nearly 40% of all new vehicles sold in the U
S., according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit group. During his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said that he was working to reach a compromise with California
He said he had met three times with the chair of the California Air Resources Board, Mary Nichols
"We've had numerous conversations. My staff has worked with her staff for months now," he told the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
"We would love to have a 50-state solution." However in a statement to The Times, Nichols sounded a note of deep frustration with Wheeler
She said that in abandoning the emissions standards adopted by the previous administration and attacking California's authority to enforce its own rules, the acting administrator had "failed to use his authority to protect the health and welfare of all Americans
" Advertisement > "This is a blow not just to California but to all the states who follow our regulatory approach," Nichols said
"States are prepared to defend our rights against federal overrides by all legal means
" Carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles already rank among the major contributors to climate change and they are expected to account for an even greater portion in the future
For this reason, the national fuel efficiency standards aimed at getting the nation's cars and trucks to average more than 50 miles per gallon by 2025 are often considered one of the country's most effective steps to fight global warming
In August, the Trump administration unveiled a proposal to freeze mileage targets after 2020
In addition to ending California's unique authority to set its own, tougher greenhouse gas emissions standards, the plan would nullify the state mandate that automakers sell a certain number of electric vehicles
Automakers, who had complained that the Obama-era regulations were too costly, asked the Trump administration to relax them
But even they were caught off guard by the aggressiveness of the proposal, and some have since advocated for a more moderate approach in hopes of avoiding a lengthy legal battle
Still, it remains unclear how forcefully automakers have pushed back against the administration's plans
California officials have proposed that if the current fuel efficiency rules remain in place through 2025, they would be willing to make it easier for automakers to meet those requirements by taking advantage of existing loopholes
In exchange, the Trump administration would have to agree not to challenge the state's power to set its own pollution standards
According to people with knowledge of the talks, agency officials have not responded to this proposal
During Wheeler's nomination hearing, Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.), the top Democrat on the committee, said he had "heard that the Trump administration now plans to finalize a 0
5% annual increase in the stringency of the standards, a rate that is 10 times weaker than the current rules
" EPA officials have said they are still working on a final draft of the rules. California has already sued the Trump administration to block the EPA's efforts to weaken the existing standards
And if talks fail, more litigation inevitably will follow, reviving old arguments about whether California has the legal authority under the Clean Air Act to set its own standards
Meanwhile, regulators in China and Europe are going forward with tougher standards of their own to curb auto emissions
"I think the worst case scenario is lost years of progress, which may be critical for climate change," said Paul Cort, an attorney for the environmental advocacy group Earthjustice
"I don't think you can stop the progress that's happening. It's just it could be slowed here in the U
S." Advertisement > The latest from Washington » More stories from Anna M. Phillips »
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Powerful Storm Sets Sights On Northern California - Duration: 1:48.
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Gov. Newsom introduces proposal to help California immigrants, asylum seekers - Duration: 2:00.
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Northern California Restaurant BANS "MAGA" Hats, Compares them to Swastikas - Duration: 5:27.
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US NEWS | California snowpack at 100 percent of average as January ends, state officials say The S - Duration: 3:14.
US NEWS | California snowpack at 100 percent of average as January ends, state officials say The S
January 31, 2019 12:09 PM
The Department of Water Resources conducted Californias second manual snow survey of the year Thursday at Phillips Station, which offered some good news for the state.
DWR water resource engineer John King announced that snow water content doubled since the start of the month at the survey site near Echo Summit.
The snow depth today is 50 inches and the snow water equivalent is 18 inches, which results in 98 percent of average to date and 71 percent of the April 1 average at this location, King said. This is a significant increase since the last survey, where we had just measured 25.5 inches of depth and 9 inches of snow water equivalent.
This years Jan. 3 survey at Phillips found snowpack below average, but well above the levels recorded at the start of 2018. Last Januarys first reading came in at a dismal 0.4 inches of snow water content, as officials announced on dry grounds, wearing boots and jeans.
For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today.
On Thursday, DWR officials were in snow pants and heavy jackets, stomping through the powder in snow shoes. The Phillips Station announcement was streamed live to Facebook.
A of snow water equivalent showed California at 100 percent of normal 17.3 inches as of Jan. 31.
This is typically the date of maximum snow accumulation, King said. California started 2019 with a series of cold storms which increased our statewide snow water equivalent to 100 percent of average to date according to our statewide monitoring network.
The Sierra will also see a , expected to create major travel delays around Tahoe while bringing moderate to heavy precipitation across Northern California. The winter storm is expected to further boost snowpack numbers.
Manual surveys are performed at 260 snow courses measured statewide throughout California.
This data drives decisions that are made throughout the state by water managers, DWR Chief of Hydrology and Flood Operations John Pasch said Thursday.
Pasch said snow water measurements affect management decisions all the way through spring and summer, but is crucial in real time during the winter. This data helps DWR determine reservoir levels needed for adequate flood storage.
Average isnt necessarily normal, Pasch said. Weve had really wet years and some really dry years, so it really is comforting to have an average year for the Feb. 1 measurement.
Widespread rain and mountain snow will begin Friday, with the heaviest precipitation Friday Night and Saturday. With any heavy precipitation, rapidly falling snow levels are possible. Mountain travel is HIGHLY DISCOURAGED after Friday afternoon.
February 01, 2019 08:30 AM
The latest Northern California weather forecasts predict a major winter storm in the mountains Friday through Monday due to a strong cold front, with rain and gusty winds hitting Sacramento by Friday evening.
For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today.
Real time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.
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Major Northern California winter storm hits this weekend - Duration: 3:00.
For more infomation >> Major Northern California winter storm hits this weekend - Duration: 3:00. -------------------------------------------
VW T6 California - Duration: 1:14.
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[A-Mart] How to make sushi (California rolls) 🍣 TURN ON SUBTITLES - Duration: 8:57.
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California Exodus: Are some people fed up with the 'Golden State'? - Duration: 2:56.
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California restaurant owner bans customers wearing MAGA hats - Duration: 4:04.
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HOT | California snowpack at 100 percent of average as January ends, state officials say The Sacra - Duration: 3:12.
HOT | California snowpack at 100 percent of average as January ends, state officials say The Sacra
January 31, 2019 12:09 PM
The Department of Water Resources conducted Californias second manual snow survey of the year Thursday at Phillips Station, which offered some good news for the state.
DWR water resource engineer John King announced that snow water content doubled since the start of the month at the survey site near Echo Summit.
The snow depth today is 50 inches and the snow water equivalent is 18 inches, which results in 98 percent of average to date and 71 percent of the April 1 average at this location, King said. This is a significant increase since the last survey, where we had just measured 25.5 inches of depth and 9 inches of snow water equivalent.
This years Jan. 3 survey at Phillips found snowpack below average, but well above the levels recorded at the start of 2018. Last Januarys first reading came in at a dismal 0.4 inches of snow water content, as officials announced on dry grounds, wearing boots and jeans.
For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today.
On Thursday, DWR officials were in snow pants and heavy jackets, stomping through the powder in snow shoes. The Phillips Station announcement was streamed live to Facebook.
A of snow water equivalent showed California at 100 percent of normal 17.3 inches as of Jan. 31.
This is typically the date of maximum snow accumulation, King said. California started 2019 with a series of cold storms which increased our statewide snow water equivalent to 100 percent of average to date according to our statewide monitoring network.
The Sierra will also see a , expected to create major travel delays around Tahoe while bringing moderate to heavy precipitation across Northern California. The winter storm is expected to further boost snowpack numbers.
Manual surveys are performed at 260 snow courses measured statewide throughout California.
This data drives decisions that are made throughout the state by water managers, DWR Chief of Hydrology and Flood Operations John Pasch said Thursday.
Pasch said snow water measurements affect management decisions all the way through spring and summer, but is crucial in real time during the winter. This data helps DWR determine reservoir levels needed for adequate flood storage.
Average isnt necessarily normal, Pasch said. Weve had really wet years and some really dry years, so it really is comforting to have an average year for the Feb. 1 measurement.
Widespread rain and mountain snow will begin Friday, with the heaviest precipitation Friday Night and Saturday. With any heavy precipitation, rapidly falling snow levels are possible. Mountain travel is HIGHLY DISCOURAGED after Friday afternoon.
February 01, 2019 08:30 AM
The latest Northern California weather forecasts predict a major winter storm in the mountains Friday through Monday due to a strong cold front, with rain and gusty winds hitting Sacramento by Friday evening.
For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today.
Real time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.
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