California Sues EPA on Greenhouse Gas Regs

California sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday for denying the state’s “greenhouse gas” limits on cars and trucks, the Associated Press reported.

California had challenged the Bush administration’s conclusion that states may not set emission standards on their own.

At least 16 other states may join the lawsuit, which was prompted by EPA’s denial last month of California’s request for a waiver as required under the federal Clean Air Act, AP reported.

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson denied the waiver, saying it would result in a patchwork of state regulations.

Johnson said energy legislation signed in December by President Bush will raise fuel economy standards nationwide to an average of 35 mpg by 2020, which will be a far more effective approach to reducing greenhouse gases than patchwork state regulations, AP reported.

The lawsuit was filed in the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

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