The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rolled back Trump administration reductions of auto emission standards enacted by the Trump administration, and is taking first steps toward a new emissions agreement with automakers.

Juliet Eilperin and Dino Grandoni report that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a decision to allow California permission "to set more stringent climate requirements for cars and SUVs." The decision would reverse a controversial Trump administration policy, itself a reversal of previous environmental policy.
"The step, coming days after the Transportation Department withdrew Trump-era restrictions of state tailpipe emission rules, could help pave the way for a broader climate deal with the nation’s automakers," according to the article. The U.S. EPA will begin holding public hearings in June and accepting public comments in July.
California isn't the only state seeking more stringent emission standards from automakers. "Thirteen states and D.C. have signed on to California’s greenhouse gas vehicle standards. Collectively they represent 36 percent of the U.S. auto market," according to the article.
FULL STORY: EPA moves to give California right to set climate limits on cars, SUVs

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
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