New Legislation Could Save Race Cars From The EPA's Clean Air Act
The United States’ Environmental Protection Agency caused a massive stir last month, when a proposed piece of regulation within the Clean Air Act appeared to outlaw the tampering of “emission controls” on road cars converted for competition use. To make matters worse, the EPA then released a clarification that seemed to suggest the practice was already illegal.
However, it looks like a solution is at hand in the form of a new bipartisan bill put together by several members of Congress. It’s called HR 4715, but we prefer its other name - Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016 - however, as it rather nicely abbreviates to the RPM Act.
What the bill proposes is that competition-only cars are made exempt from the Clean Air Act. It’ll be a while before we know if the bill is passed - it’s currently being considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee - but it’s a positive step in the right direction.
Speaking about the news, SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting said: “SEMA thanks Representatives McHenry, Cuellar, Hudson, Posey and Zeldin for introducing this bill…We intend to work closely with our congressional allies to ensure that the Clean Air Act continues to allow the conversion and use of street vehicles as racecars.”
Source: SEMA via Autoblog
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
If people only knew that CO2 emissions from the agrarian sector (livestock etc.) is much higher than all the cars in the world. If everybody would eat less meat we wouldn’t even need catalytic converters.
many of the greatest advancements in automotive technology and efficiency have been made by and for racers. i’m all for emission testing however, by restricting experimentation and innovation to large and often foreign companies they are not only harming the environment, but the us economy as well. abolish anti tampering laws and the visual component of smog checks and everyone will benefit.
And people wonder why VW tried to bypass emission tests …. US regulations are getting ridiculous