January 03, 2008

States Sue EPA Over Emissions Rules

With California leading the charge, 16 states have come together to bring a lawsuit against the Bush administration over the ability of states to craft their own rules about greenhouse gas emissions. The states filed the suit yesterday, claiming their rights were violated when the Environmental Protection Agency denied their request.

Both houses of Congress will take up the issue with hearings on "whether the White House and automakers influenced the Environmental Protection Agency's decision, which was required to be based on scientific and legal grounds," according to the Los Angeles Times. California Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) is also calling for an investigation into the EPA's ruling.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) soundly rebuked the EPA in a statement yesterday, saying the agency is "ignoring the will of millions of people who want their government to take action in the fight against global warming." His state was denied a waiver for an existing California law that would have mandated the reduction of emissions from new vehicles by 30 percent over the next eight years.

Waivers were allowed under the nationwide Clean Air Act, and they were routinely granted -- California alone got about 50 in the last 30 years to allow for innovation in energy technology. But EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson told Schwarzenegger last month that new fuel economy standards recently signed into law would supersede the gains that could come from California's proposal.

President Bush, shortly after he signed the energy legislation containing the new standards, defended the EPA's decision on the basis that a national strategy to reduce greenhouse gases would be more effective than a state-by-state approach.

Posted at 7:56 AM
Posted to: Bush Administration, Climate Change
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