California Sues the EPA over Emission Standards!

California (TGW) – California sued the Environmental Protection Agency Thursday, demanding that the state be allowed to limit greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.

"California is ready to implement the nation's cleanest standards for vehicle emissions, but we cannot do that until the federal government grants a waiver allowing us to enforce those standards," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said.

The suit follows a 2005 law that requires strict emissions standards.

California needs a waiver from the federal government because it wants to impose stricter standards than those of the federal government.

If the EPA denies the waiver, "we sue again, and sue again, and sue again until we get it," Schwarzenegger said.

The federal agency "has unreasonably delayed action on the requested waiver," according to the lawsuit. "Automotive emissions of greenhouse gases are increasing more rapidly than any other source," the lawsuit said. "The longer the delay in reducing these emissions, the more costly and harmful will be the impact on California."

"We're less than two months away and clearly California is more interested in getting a good headline than in giving us the time to make a good decision," an EPA spokeswoman said.

16 other states are considering or have already adopted laws similar to California’s, and many have joined the lawsuit.

"We are filling the void left by the Bush Administration's refusal to protect the environment," New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.

"If the federal government won't lead on this critical issue, it should get out of the way of states like New York that are moving forward with sensible steps to address the climate crisis."

Via :: Reuters