Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — The Iowa House has passed a bill that would impose new state restrictions on farm implement dealerships, giving tractor and combine owners the ability to repair their own diesel exhaust fluid systems.
Republican Representative Derek Wulf of Hudson, who’s a farmer, goes even farther, suggesting it could be interpreted to mean that the systems could be permanently disabled.
In early February, the Trump Administration announced that under its interpretation of the Clean Air Act, the exhaust systems on diesel powered farm equipment may be disabled for repairs, and manufacturers cannot justify limiting access to tools or software.
The bill that cleared the Iowa House would require manufacturers to provide free information and software to diagnose and fix diesel exhaust systems. They’d also have to sell both the tools and replacement parts to make the repairs at a significantly reduced price.
The bill passed with the support of 55 Republicans and two Democrats. Opposition came from nine Republicans and two dozen Democrats.
Representative Kenan Judge, a Democrat from Waukee, says he’s all for saving farmers’ money, but permanently disabling the diesel exhaust system is risky.
On February 3rd, President Trump’s EPA administrator said the Clean Air Act prohibits the removal or disabling of emission control systems, but the law has an exception that lets the systems be disabled to make a repair.
KIWA Staff Photo
