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American Press
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- American Press
Louisiana lawmaker pushes to eliminate inspection stickers for most vehicles
(Special to the American Press) By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square A new bill from Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Caddo, would eliminate the requirement for most Louisiana vehicles to have inspection stickers, arguing that modern cars are safer than ever and the current system is outdated, ineffective, and ripe for abuse. Under current law, nearly all vehicles registered in Louisiana — including passenger cars, trailers, and low-speed vehicles — must display a valid safety inspection sticker issued by the state. Bagley's proposal would repeal that requirement for private passenger vehicles, keeping it only for commercial and student transportation vehicles. Vehicles in parishes subject to the U.S. Clean Air Act would still need emissions inspections. Bagley, speaking before a House committee, emphasized that Louisiana is now an outlier among Southern states. 'There are no red states that have them, except Louisiana. There are 39 states that have eliminated the requirement include neighboring Texas, Mississippi and Alabama,' Bagley said. 'There are no southern [states that require them].' He pointed to advances in automotive safety as a key reason the law is no longer needed. 'Modern vehicles are safer than ever, vehicles manufactured today are with advanced safety technologies, including airbag, analog braking systems, crash avoidance censors,' Bagley continued. 'I can see 20 years ago, but not anymore.' He also questioned the effectiveness of current inspections. 'A vehicle might pass inspection one day but develop a safety defect the next,' Bagley said. 'An inspection sticker only shows the vehicle's compliant on the day that was inspected, not months after.' Fraud in the inspection system was another concern Bagley raised. 'Reports of fraudulent inspection stickers being printed and sold undermine the purpose and credibility [of] the current system,' Bagley said, recounting testimony from a previous bill hearing. 'They go through parking lots and grocery stores. In fact, they caught one at State Police headquarters here in Baton Rouge, walking through the parking lot actually trying to sell fraudulent stickers.' Bagley added that the public's frustration lies not with the inspection fee, but with the process itself. 'It's not a $10 fee that citizens find most frustrating. It's a hassle and inconvenience of having to visit inspection [stations],' Bagley said. 'Citizens have been fined for missing sticker renewals when their vehicles are operating safely.' The proposed law would also remove the requirement for law enforcement to issue formal written notices when citing vehicles for unsafe conditions. Officers would still be able to issue citations for safety violations based on existing state equipment standards. Bagley has brought similar legislation in past sessions, but it has faced resistance from those who argue inspections are a basic safeguard. This time, he's hopeful his argument resonates with lawmakers and drivers alike. An amendment to the bill clarifies that overweight and oversize mobile homes requiring a state permit would not be subject to the inspection sticker requirement when being transported by a bonded carrier. Additionally, used motor vehicles being moved by a dealer would also be exempt from the inspection certificate requirement while in transit.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Trump seeks minerals refining on Pentagon bases to boost US output, sources say
By Ernest Scheyder and Jarrett Renshaw (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump aims to build metals refining facilities on Pentagon military bases as part of his plan to boost domestic production of critical minerals and offset China's control of the sector, two senior administration officials told Reuters. The move is one of several planned for an executive order Trump could sign as soon as Wednesday after he told the U.S. Congress last week he would "take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA." See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. As part of the order, the Pentagon would work with other federal agencies to install processing facilities on its bases, according to the sources, who were not authorized to publicly discuss the administration's deliberations. Using military bases for processing would underscore the importance Trump is placing on critical minerals for national security. Fighter jets, submarines, bullets and other weaponry used by the U.S. military are built with minerals processed by Beijing. Trump also plans to name a critical minerals czar, similar to steps previous presidents have taken to coordinate Washington's focus on other areas, according to one of the sources. The plans are under discussion and could change before Trump signs the order, the sources added. Some Trump administration officials were spooked by initial signs that China might restrict critical minerals exports as part of its retaliation for Trump's tariffs or for other reasons, according to a person familiar with their thinking. The U.S. National Security Council did not respond to requests for comment. With the Pentagon controlling about 30 million acres of land, the plan would ensure there is available land for the refining facilities, avoiding the controversy that sometimes occurs in host local communities. It would also avoid the need to buy land and avoid using land controlled by other federal departments. A plan that prioritizes metals processing - rather than an overhaul of U.S. mine permitting - could irk U.S. miners but address a longstanding concern from manufacturers that China controls too much of the global metals processing sector. China is a top global producer of 30 of the 50 minerals considered critical by the U.S. Geological Survey, for example. It's not clear how Trump's plan for processing facilities on Pentagon bases could work from a regulatory perspective, as the U.S. Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act would still apply to Pentagon bases and those regulations have hindered private development of processing projects in the past. Trump previously signaled a willingness for alternative uses of lands controlled by Washington. As a presidential candidate, he pledged to open up portions of federal land for large-scale housing construction, with zones that would be "ultra-low tax and ultra-low regulation." Trump does not plan in the order to establish a U.S. critical minerals stockpile that would mimic the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the sources said, a step that some in the administration and mining industry had sought. China stockpiles some critical minerals, including cobalt, and the U.S. government last year considered stockpiling the metal, which is used in missiles, aerospace parts, magnets for communication, and radar and guidance systems. Trump also does not plan to order the Pentagon or other U.S. agencies to require vendors to use only U.S. minerals, what is known as a "Buy American" mandate, and one that junior miners especially have said is needed to offset China's market manipulations. Nor would the order try to alter the federal mine permitting process, which was set by the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, largely because such a move would require an act of Congress. However, it would aim to expand the FAST-41 permitting process for mines, building on a step Trump took in his first term, according to the sources. South32's Hermosa zinc-manganese project in Arizona was fast-tracked by former President Joe Biden, the first mine to receive that treatment. The order would also seek to reclassify mine waste on federal land, mimicking a step that Rio Tinto, Freeport-McMoRan and others have taken to tap piles of old waste rock at U.S. mines previously thought to be worthless. Such a reclassification could help produce copper and other minerals cheaper and faster than building new mines. It was not immediately clear if Trump plans to declare copper as a strategic mineral, which would allow U.S. miners of the widely used metal tap into a 10% production tax credit. Phoenix-based Freeport, the largest U.S. copper miner, told Reuters on Monday it hopes Trump takes that step, which would save it $500 million annually.
Reuters
10-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Exclusive: Trump seeks minerals refining on Pentagon bases to boost US output, sources say
March 10 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump aims to build metals refining facilities on Pentagon military bases as part of his plan to boost domestic production of critical minerals and offset China's control of the sector, two senior administration officials told Reuters. The move is one of several planned for an executive order Trump could sign as soon as Wednesday after he told the U.S. Congress last week he would "take historic action to dramatically expand production of critical minerals and rare earths here in the USA." As part of the order, the Pentagon would work with other federal agencies to install processing facilities on its bases, according to the sources, who were not authorized to publicly discuss the administration's deliberations. Using military bases for processing would underscore the importance Trump is placing on critical minerals for national security. Fighter jets, submarines, bullets and other weaponry used by the U.S. military are built with minerals processed by Beijing. Trump also plans to name a critical minerals czar, similar to steps previous presidents have taken to coordinate Washington's focus on other areas, according to one of the sources. The plans are under discussion and could change before Trump signs the order, the sources added. Some Trump administration officials were spooked by initial signs that China might restrict critical minerals exports as part of its retaliation for Trump's tariffs or for other reasons, according to a person familiar with their thinking. The U.S. National Security Council did not respond to requests for comment. With the Pentagon controlling about 30 million acres of land, the plan would ensure there is available land for the refining facilities, avoiding the controversy that sometimes occurs in host local communities. It would also avoid the need to buy land and avoid using land controlled by other federal departments. A plan that prioritizes metals processing - rather than an overhaul of U.S. mine permitting - could irk U.S. miners but address a longstanding concern from manufacturers that China controls too much of the global metals processing sector. China is a top global producer of 30 of the 50 minerals considered critical by the U.S. Geological Survey, for example. It's not clear how Trump's plan for processing facilities on Pentagon bases could work from a regulatory perspective, as the U.S. Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act would still apply to Pentagon bases and those regulations have hindered private development of processing projects in the past. Trump previously signaled a willingness for alternative uses of lands controlled by Washington. As a presidential candidate, he pledged to open up portions of federal land for large-scale housing construction, with zones that would be "ultra-low tax and ultra-low regulation." Trump does not plan in the order to establish a U.S. critical minerals stockpile that would mimic the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the sources said, a step that some in the administration and mining industry had sought. China stockpiles some critical minerals, including cobalt, and the U.S. government last year considered stockpiling the metal, which is used in missiles, aerospace parts, magnets for communication, and radar and guidance systems. Trump also does not plan to order the Pentagon or other U.S. agencies to require vendors to use only U.S. minerals, what is known as a "Buy American" mandate, and one that junior miners especially have said is needed to offset China's market manipulations. Nor would the order try to alter the federal mine permitting process, which was set by the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, largely because such a move would require an act of Congress. However, it would aim to expand the FAST-41 permitting process for mines, building on a step Trump took in his first term, according to the sources. South32's ( opens new tab Hermosa zinc-manganese project in Arizona was fast-tracked by former President Joe Biden, the first mine to receive that treatment. The order would also seek to reclassify mine waste on federal land, mimicking a step that Rio Tinto ( opens new tab, Freeport-McMoRan (FCX.N), opens new tab and others have taken to tap piles of old waste rock at U.S. mines previously thought to be worthless. Such a reclassification could help produce copper and other minerals cheaper and faster than building new mines. It was not immediately clear if Trump plans to declare copper as a strategic mineral, which would allow U.S. miners of the widely used metal tap into a 10% production tax credit. Phoenix-based Freeport, the largest U.S. copper miner, told Reuters on Monday it hopes Trump takes that step, which would save it $500 million annually.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top EPA nominees face Senate scrutiny over plan to undo key climate finding
By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Trump nominees to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's deregulatory efforts are expected to face questions at their Senate confirmation on Wednesday about the agency's plans to gut the basis for greenhouse gas emission rules. At issue is whether the agency intends to unwind the 2009 'endangerment finding', which cleared a path for regulating greenhouse gases under the U.S. Clean Air Act and formed the basis for numerous EPA climate rules, including on power plants and vehicle tailpipe emissions. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has recommended attempting to reverse the finding to the White House, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The EPA confirmed there was a recommendation, but did not disclose its details. The Senate environment committee on Wednesday will weigh the confirmation of Aaron Szabo to be the EPA's assistant administrator for Air and Radiation and David Fotouhi to be deputy administrator - two key roles that would lead any efforts to unwind the endangerment finding. When Fotouhi served as EPA general counsel during the first Trump administration, the agency did not pursue reversal of the endangerment finding amid industry pushback. Fotouhi and Szabo were not available for comment. The Supreme Court ruled in a 2007 case, Massachusetts v. EPA, that greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act and that EPA must issue a finding that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger public health and the environment. The EPA under former President Barack Obama finalized the finding in 2009, and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act – former President Joe Biden's signature climate law - codified language deeming greenhouse gases are air pollutants. The Edison Electric Institute, a utility trade group, declined to comment on potential plans to roll back the endangerment finding but referred Reuters to a 2022 legal brief in which it said that the industry has "come to rely on EPA's authority" to regulate greenhouse gases. The Alliance For Automotive Innovation said its members have not yet weighed in on whether the endangerment finding should be reversed, spokesperson Brian Weiss said. Zeldin, a former New York Congressman, said in his Senate confirmation hearing that the endangerment finding gives EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gases, but that the agency isn't obligated to do so.
Reuters
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Top EPA nominees face Senate scrutiny over plan to undo key climate finding
WASHINGTON, March 5 (Reuters) - Two Trump nominees to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's deregulatory efforts are expected to face questions at their Senate confirmation on Wednesday about the agency's plans to gut the basis for greenhouse gas emission rules. At issue is whether the agency intends to unwind the 2009 'endangerment finding', which cleared a path for regulating greenhouse gases under the U.S. Clean Air Act and formed the basis for numerous EPA climate rules, including on power plants and vehicle tailpipe emissions. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has recommended attempting to reverse the finding to the White House, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The EPA confirmed there was a recommendation, but did not disclose its details. The Senate environment committee on Wednesday will weigh the confirmation of Aaron Szabo to be the EPA's assistant administrator for Air and Radiation and David Fotouhi to be deputy administrator - two key roles that would lead any efforts to unwind the endangerment finding. When Fotouhi served as EPA general counsel during the first Trump administration, the agency did not pursue reversal of the endangerment finding amid industry pushback. Fotouhi and Szabo were not available for comment. The Supreme Court ruled in a 2007 case, Massachusetts v. EPA, that greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act and that EPA must issue a finding that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger public health and the environment. The EPA under former President Barack Obama finalized the finding in 2009, and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act – former President Joe Biden's signature climate law - codified language deeming greenhouse gases are air pollutants. The Edison Electric Institute, a utility trade group, declined to comment on potential plans to roll back the endangerment finding but referred Reuters to a 2022 legal brief in which it said that the industry has "come to rely on EPA's authority" to regulate greenhouse gases. The Alliance For Automotive Innovation said its members have not yet weighed in on whether the endangerment finding should be reversed, spokesperson Brian Weiss said. Zeldin, a former New York Congressman, said in his Senate confirmation hearing that the endangerment finding gives EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gases, but that the agency isn't obligated to do so.
