It’s an honor to serve the people of Arkansas as the regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 6 office, which also covers Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and 66 federally recognized Tribes.
I share President Trump and Administrator Lee Zeldin’s belief that EPA’s work should benefit all Americans without hindering our economy.
Nowhere is this goal illustrated more clearly than in the agricultural community. I’ve met with farmers and ranchers about how EPA can help them, and their message is clear and consistent: Get rid of the unnecessary bureaucracy that makes their work more difficult and less efficient. As shown by Administrator Zeldin’s recent announcement revising diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) requirements, EPA is listening and taking action.
As many farmers, truckers and diesel vehicle operators know, engine systems that use DEF automatically lose power and speed when DEF runs out or a sensor fails.
This can leave a farmer stranded in the middle of a harvest, or a delivery driver pushing her truck harder to reach appropriate speeds.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Based on feedback from these operators, EPA has issued new, common-sense guidance that empowers manufacturers to revise their DEF system software in existing vehicles to prevent sudden, severe power loss and eliminate abrupt shutdowns that create real-world disruptions.
These modifications provide more flexibility and reliability without compromising air quality or emissions reductions. And starting with model year 2027, all new diesel engines will be required to prevent severe power loss and shutdowns tied to DEF issues.
The Trump EPA is working hard to Power the Great American Comeback, and that means making sure our regulations don’t overburden important economic sectors. We will continue listening to our agriculture partners and other stakeholders and enacting common-sense changes to ensure we continue to protect the environment while keeping the economy strong.
Scott Mason is the Region 6 administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.