EPA Repeals Greenhouse Gas Regulation, But Emissions Testing Remains in Wisconsin

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently repealed its 2009 "endangerment finding" that allowed the regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. This decision ends federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, but will not affect the mandatory emissions testing program in Milwaukee and surrounding counties, which is required to meet air quality standards for ozone pollution.

Why it matters

While the EPA's decision removes federal oversight of greenhouse gas emissions, it does not change the state-level emissions testing program in southeastern Wisconsin, which is required to monitor and control air pollution from vehicles in the region. This highlights the continued need for local and state-level action on environmental issues, even as the federal government pulls back.

The details

The EPA's repeal of the endangerment finding immediately ended the agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and other sources. However, the emissions testing requirement in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine and several other counties is mandated by the Clean Air Act to monitor and control ozone pollution, which is separate from greenhouse gas regulations. The goal of the testing program is to ensure vehicle emission control systems are working properly as cars age, regardless of the EPA's actions on greenhouse gases.

• On February 12, 2026, the EPA repealed the 2009 endangerment finding that allowed regulation of greenhouse gases.
• The emissions testing requirement in southeastern Wisconsin has been in place since the early 2000s.

What they’re saying

What’s next

A group of health and environmental organizations, including Clean Wisconsin, have challenged the EPA's repeal of the endangerment finding in court, seeking to restore federal authority over greenhouse gas emissions.