WASHINGTON -- The National Auto Dealers Association, the parent group of the American Truck Dealers, is opposing a move toward giving the Environmental Protection Agency authority over fuel economy of heavy trucks.

Last week the House Committee on Energy and Commerce adopted an amendment to the "Global Warming Bill" (H.R. 2454) that would move authority to regulate fuel economy for heavy-duty trucks away from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and give it to the EPA.

NADA, on behalf of truck dealers, promptly sent a letter to Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), chairman of the committee, and ranking member Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), objecting to the proposal. The letter pointed out that Congress less than two years ago delegated regulation of heavy-duty truck fuel economy to NHTSA.

The association also pointed out that the process Congress established to regulate heavy-duty trucks could only proceed once studies by the National Academy of Sciences and NHTSA were completed, ensuring the economic consequences of heavy-duty fuel regulation would be thoroughly considered.

ATD believes it makes no sense to give EPA the authority to regulate the fuel economy of heavy-duty trucks since the agency has no experience regulating fuel economy, and NHTSA has been regulating fuel economy for more than three decades.

The EPA seems to have adopted a tougher streak under President Obama. It seems ready to declare carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases "pollutants" that are "dangerous to public health" and is expected for the first time to regulate CO2.