From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office
(Left image) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, left, and Summit Products CEO Albert Marasco. (Right image) SEMA's Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs Eric Snyder, left, Zeldin, center, and Marasco.
Summit Products in Altoona, Iowa, recently hosted U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, providing a tour of their facility and discussing ways the EPA can continue to support the automotive aftermarket industry and domestic manufacturing.
During the visit, Administrator Zeldin discussed the EPA’s July action to recognize SEMA as a certification authority for aftermarket vehicle parts, issuing a groundbreaking advisory opinion stating that a SEMA Certified-Emissions certification qualifies as a reasonable basis under the Tampering Policy and companies can rely on this certificate to demonstrate compliance. With this formal recognition, the EPA established a regulatory pathway for companies to show in 49 states (excluding California) that they meet the Clean Air Act's emissions requirements.
Administrator Zeldin also discussed the EPA’s implementation of its February Right to Repair guidance and President Trump’s Freedom to Fix memo, which sought to ensure every American can repair their vehicle and to provide aftermarket businesses with an EPA-recognized way to demonstrate their products are emissions certified.
The visit to Summit Products was one of several stops Zeldin made in Iowa and Wisconsin to meet with regulated businesses, farmers, industry leaders and local officials. At Summit, he highlighted how the Trump EPA is supporting vehicle owners and aftermarket businesses.
"Small businesses are the foundation of the American economy," said Administrator Zeldin. "It was great to visit and tour Summit Products, a proud SEMA member and small business, in Altoona, Iowa. SEMA is working hard to make sure that small businesses can continue to thrive and be competitive. At the Trump EPA, we are fully committed to doing our part, from helping to ensure Americans have the right to repair their own equipment to our recent decision to grant SEMA third-party certification authority over aftermarket parts. The Trump EPA will continue doing everything we can to support American farmers, truckers, car enthusiasts and others."
Summit Products CEO Albert Marasco led a tour that included Administrator Zeldin; Jim Macy, EPA Regional Administrator for Region 7 (covers Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska); Iowa State Senator Cherielynn Westrich, who is also the owner of MalWood USA, which manufactures hydraulic clutch pedal systems, and is a professional car builder/restoration expert; representatives from Dee Zee and Modern Parts Sales and Marketing; and SEMA's government affairs and councils and networks staff.
The tour provided a first-hand look at how Summit Products designs, manufactures, and tests products that upfit RVs, side-by-sides, UTVs, B-Vans, boats and other vehicles.
Summit Products is one of many great examples of how a small aftermarket manufacturer can grow and thrive in today’s economy. Since 1998, Summit Products has designed and produced accessories for motor coaches just outside of Des Moines. Today, the company produces a wide range of accessories for high-end motor coaches designed to enhance appearance and add grace, including non-slip step edges and Awning Shark for rooftops. Summit Products is comprised of several divisions, including powder coating and plastic and metal fabrication, and the company also produces truck toppers and accessories to upfit UTVs and B-Vans under its Black River brand, along with glass and windows for buses, earth-moving equipment, boats, special vehicles, and more under its Fresco Glass brand.
To host your federal lawmakers or government officials at your facility, contact Juan Mejia, SEMA's senior manager for federal government affairs, at juanm@sema.org.
