The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved hydrofluoroolefin (HFO-1234yf) as an acceptable substitute chemical for chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants. The chemical is intended to replace R-134a since it is believed to have far less global-warming potential.
SEMA joined nearly 1,300 trade associations, companies and other organizations in signing a letter to members of the House and Senate urging them to pass dozens of expired tax cuts during the November/December lame-duck session of Congress. 
SEMA’s Political Action Committee (SEMA PAC) entered election day with high hopes for candidates supportive of small business and our industry. When the votes were counted, each candidate that SEMA PAC contributed to during the general election had won their contests. These electoral successes are the result of SEMA’s relationship-building efforts on Capitol Hill and identifying lawmakers who share your enthusiasm for small-business development and the automotive hobby.
SEMA announced that Mike Dingell has joined the Washington team as its government and public affairs manager. His focus will be on developing and enhancing the SEMA Action Network (SAN). Dingell comes to SEMA after spending five years in the state & local affairs division of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action. Previously, he served on Capitol Hill as an aide to Senator Joe Lieberman.
Californians rejected Proposition 23 at the polls on November 2 with a resounding 61% “no” vote, however, many proponents of the failed measure had already jumped ship to support its less controversial cousin: Proposition 26. Prop. 23 would have suspended implementation of California’s “Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006” (AB 32) until the state unemployment rate fell below 5.6%. The state would not have been able to pursue regulations intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as a cap-and-trade policy, low carbon fuel standard and wind and solar power mandates. (Prop. 23 made no changes to California’s vehicle smog check, car scrap programs and vehicle emissions standards.)
If you attended the 2010 SEMA Show, you may have missed the final results of this year’s mid-term elections. As predicted, the political landscape has changed again, and for the first time since 2006, Republicans will hold a significant majority in the House of Representatives. Democrats have maintained their slim control of the Senate.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law a bill to revamp California’s smog-check program. No earlier than January 1, 2013, smog-check stations will be required to measure the emissions of model year ’00 and newer vehicles using onboard diagnostic testing. Current California smog-testing procedures require loaded mode dynamometer or two-speed idle testing, depending on where the vehicle is registered. The new law also directs that a procedure be developed for testing vehicles that are not able to be tested through an onboard diagnostic computer system.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing to interpret its industry noise exposure standards to require employers to implement “feasible administrative” or “engineering controls to reduce noise to acceptable standards.” OSHA is clarifying that personal protective equipment, such as ear plugs and ear muffs, could only be used as supplements when administrative or engineering controls are not completely effective. OSHA notes that the term “feasible” would have an ordinary meaning of “achievable” or “capable of being done.”
Subscribe to Government Affairs