Science, Space and Technology’s Oversight Subcommittee takes on EPA over proposed amateur racecar regulations

The Science, Space and Technology Committee’s Oversight Subcommittee recently held a hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rules on amateur racecars and the businesses that supply their parts.

“Congress never intended the Clean Air Act to apply to these vehicles and the law is clear on this point. Racecars are not regulated by this law,” U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), who serves as chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee, said. “However, EPA has now put into question the legality of non-road vehicles modified to become racecars. The EPA’s proposed expansion of authority demonstrates the agency’s willingness to resort to backdoor and secretive means to push its agenda.”

The EPA’s rule would represent an expansion of regulation, extending the agency’s emissions standards to cars that have been de-registered for exclusive use in racing competitions. The rule was included in proposed regulations for medium and heavy-duty trucks.

“In addition to the major raceways throughout our country, there are thousands of local tracks that would be devastated by this new regulation,” U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), chair of the Oversight Subcommittee, said. "What is most frustrating to me is the secretive manner that the EPA attempted to sneak in this clarification of authority — they deliberatively did this under the radar of the American people.”