Readers React: California’s on fire, and Trump’s EPA wants to get rid of its climate-change fighting mileage standards. This is insane

To the editor: Under the Trump administration, the EPA, or the Environmental Protection Agency, has become the EDA — the Environmental Destruction Agency.

There are no words to describe the insanity and stupidity of Trump administration officials wanting to freeze fuel economy standards in the face of climate change made worse by carbon emissions. Record-breaking temperatures around the globe and the horrific wildfires raging in Northern California are but more proof of our responsibility for such conditions.

To California and the 12 other states that have more stringent regulations than the federal government, I say fight on. Common sense must prevail — but then again, common sense is not so common in Washington.

Eileen M. Elvins, Dana Point

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To the editor: A young family of five will not fit into any car that gets 35 miles per gallon.

All this hysteria over the Trump administration’s action on fuel economy forgets that by 2025, we will probably have all-electric sport utility vehicles, which will tax the power grid. Our focus should be there, on upgrading the grid, not on fuel economy.

By the way, I drive an electric Chevrolet Bolt, and while it is a great little car, it is not for a family of five.

Robert Rose, Brentwood

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To the editor: Federal environmental regulations such as fuel economy standards and limits on what we can dump into the air and water are problems only for people who want to break the law. So often these regulations are treated as something to aspire to rather than the bare acceptable minimum, when the real question should be not whether you meet the standards but how far beyond these baselines your company can go.

With this in mind, there is nothing that requires automakers to reduce their technological innovation just because the government gives them that permission.

This is a moment where major companies can send a powerful message to the government that the safety and health of car buyers and the environment are of vital importance and that they can turn a good profit without destroying the world.

Bob Walter, Altadena

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To the editor: The EPA says that allowing increased air pollution will reduce deaths from traffic accidents. I welcome its efforts to reduce deaths from automobiles.

A 2013 study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that 53,000 people in the U.S. die prematurely each year because of automobile pollution, compared to 34,000 from traffic accidents. I am proud to live in a state that recognizes the need for government regulations to help clean up our air.

Jonathan Allen, La Crescenta

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