U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led a hearing on March 11 to examine S. 3135, known as the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act. The hearing focused on Environmental Protection Agency regulations for nitrogen oxide emissions from diesel vehicles and the safety concerns these rules may create for drivers in cold and rural areas.
The issue is significant because current emissions controls can cause diesel vehicles to slow dramatically or stop working if sensors detect problems, which can be especially dangerous in remote or harsh weather conditions. The proposed legislation aims to address these risks by allowing exemptions for certain regions.
In her opening statement, Capito said, “Today, we will receive testimony on S. 3135, the ‘Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act’ sponsored by Senators Sullivan, Lummis, Curtis and Murkowski. This legislation is meant to address a serious safety issue for drivers of diesel trucks and equipment in certain parts of our country.” She explained that since 2010 most new diesel engines use selective catalytic reduction technology with diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) to reduce emissions. If sensors detect high emissions or system malfunctions—including those caused by cold weather freezing DEF—the vehicle’s performance can be severely limited after four hours.
Capito said this has resulted in incidents such as tractors shutting down during harvest season and truckers stranded in sub-zero temperatures. She noted that emergency vehicles were exempted from these restrictions in 2012 when responding to emergencies. “The Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act takes a similar approach by authorizing manufacturers to override the system in targeted cold weather environments,” she said.
Capito thanked colleagues for their work on transportation safety and recognized recent EPA guidance allowing more flexibility before engine derates occur. She concluded her remarks by inviting further discussion from other committee members.
According to the official website, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee maintains its administrative base in the Senate Dirksen Office Building to support hearings and operations. The committee oversees federal programs related to environmental quality, natural resources, and infrastructure to balance conservation with national needs according to its official website. Capito chairs the committee alongside members including Kevin Cramer and Cynthia Lummis according to the official website. The committee handles legislation affecting environmental and infrastructure matters nationwide according to its official website and influences federal policy on environmental regulations, wildlife protection, and infrastructure maintenance across the nation according to its official website. It also collaborates through subcommittees on topics such as clean air, water resources, and transportation infrastructure according to its official website.
