US oil lobby group backs repeal of key climate rule for vehicles, not power plants

WASHINGTON, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The American Petroleum Institute supports the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to repeal the foundation of greenhouse gas regulations for vehicles but not for power plants and other stationary industrial facilities, its president said on Monday.

"We would not support repealing the endangerment finding for stationary sources," API President Mike Sommers told reporters, adding that the trade group believes it has "the greatest standing" from a regulatory perspective and it is clear the EPA has authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from those sources.

The EPA plans to finalize its proposal to repeal its scientific determination that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health, called the endangerment finding, which would remove the legal foundation that underpins all major climate regulations in the coming days.

Reversal of the "endangerment finding" would gut one of the most consequential federal standards that had enabled the U.S. to tackle climate change by regulating vehicles, industries, and energy-producing facilities that emit heat-trapping greenhouse gases.

"One of the reasons we wouldn't support that is because we do support the federal regulation of [potent greenhouse gas] methane and we're focused on reducing our emissions as an industry," Sommers said.