U.S. Congress Repeals Revised EPA Rule on Tyre Emissions After Industry Pushback

U.S. Lawmakers Revoke Emissions Rule Citing Environmental and Economic Risks

A bipartisan resolution has passed in the U.S. Congress overturning a controversial update to national emissions standards for the tyre manufacturing sector. Backed by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), the measure reverses an EPA rule that industry leaders argued would increase carbon emissions and impose unnecessary costs.

What Was Overturned?

The resolution, H.J.Res. 61, sponsored by Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), and supported by over 20 Representatives, nullifies the Environmental Protection Agency’s revised Rubber Tire Manufacturing National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), published in November 2024. A companion resolution, S.J.Res. 24, was led in the Senate by Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

The updated NESHAP rule introduced new emission limits for total hydrocarbons (THC) and filterable particulate matter, requiring plants to install energy-intensive regenerative thermal oxidisers (RTOs). According to USTMA, these devices would consume large volumes of natural gas, paradoxically increasing carbon emissions without delivering measurable improvements in air quality.

Industry Reaction

USTMA President and CEO Anne Forristall Luke said the revised regulation would have created “an adverse environmental impact” while burdening tyre manufacturers with high compliance costs. She noted that the EPA’s own 2020 assessment confirmed existing standards provided a sufficient margin of safety.

USTMA, which represents 11 member companies operating 55 facilities in 16 states, submitted formal support for the resolution prior to the vote. The group maintains that it continues to support environmental stewardship but sees the overturned rule as misaligned with both industry realities and environmental goals.

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The rollback underscores a growing industry push for science-based environmental regulation that aligns with operational realities and sustainability goals. As tyre manufacturers invest in decarbonisation, including alternative fuels and closed-loop systems, regulatory clarity remains essential. Balancing emissions control with energy use is likely to remain a key issue as the sector adapts to net-zero targets, especially in energy-intensive processes such as curing and emissions treatment.

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Tagged with: USTMA, EPA emissions rule, tyre manufacturing, NESHAP, regenerative thermal oxidisers, sustainability, air quality, U.S. tyre industry

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