H.J.Res. 213
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule issued by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the "California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision".
Sponsor: James Gallagher
5 cosponsors
In plain English: what this bill does
The bill would formally reject a rule the Environmental Protection Agency issued on January 10, 2025. That rule concerned California's pollution standards for engines on commercial harbor boats, such as ferries, tugboats and cargo vessels. If this resolution became law, the EPA rule would have no force or effect.
Who this affects
- Environmental Protection Agency: the rule it issued would no longer have legal effect.
- California: its state pollution standards for commercial harbor craft engines would be affected by the removal of the EPA rule that addressed them.
- Owners and operators of commercial harbor craft: the EPA rule that applied to their engines would no longer apply.
Words to know
- Joint resolution: a special kind of law that Congress uses to approve or reject a specific action, such as a rule from a federal agency.
- Congressional disapproval: a formal vote by Congress to reject an agency rule so that it no longer has legal effect.
- Rule: an official regulation that a federal agency issues to put a law into practice.
- Commercial harbor craft: boats and vessels used for business at ports, such as ferries, tugboats and cargo ships.
For example
Made-up situation: A tugboat company in a harbor operates engines that the EPA rule covered. If this resolution became law, the EPA rule would no longer apply to those engines, so the company would not have to follow that rule.
Written by AI from the bill's text below; it can be wrong. How it's written
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
This joint resolution revokes the partial authorization granted to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to amend its Commercial Harbor Craft regulation. Among other elements, the amendments proposed by CARB and partially authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) create new emission standards and compliance dates depending on vessel category and engine model year and expand the types of vessels covered by the regulation (e.g. commercial fishing boats). (Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA may authorize California to adopt and enforce standards relating to the control of emissions from nonroad vehicles or engines if those standards meet certain requirements.)
Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies the EPA authorization decision titled California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Commercial Harbor Craft Regulations; Notice of Decision.