This bill directs the EPA to allow diesel vehicle manufacturers to temporarily disable engine power-reduction and shutdown features when temperatures drop to zero degrees Celsius or below in cold-weather regions. The legislation also exempts diesel vehicles operating in areas with prolonged freezing conditions (particularly north of 59 degrees latitude) from having to use diesel exhaust fluid systems, which the bill argues are unreliable and impractical in extreme cold. Supporters argue these changes are necessary because automatic engine shutdowns pose safety risks to drivers in remote areas with limited emergency services, and that emissions control systems designed for temperate climates shouldn't jeopardize human safety in regions with extended winters. The EPA must implement these regulatory changes within 180 days, and the bill specifies that normal emissions controls resume once temperatures rise above freezing. The legislation emphasizes that it does not waive overall emissions standards under the Clean Air Act, only creates targeted cold-weather exceptions.
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