Action Against EPA Filed Today

November 8, 2007 -- OLYMPIA – California’s lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to act on California’s tailpipe emissions waiver request was filed today in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Washington, with 13 other states, filed a motion to intervene on behalf of California.

Washington is one of 12 states that have adopted the California clean car standards, which address tailpipe emissions of both air toxins and greenhouse gases (CO2). To take effect, the EPA must approve a petition filed by California that would waive certain less-stringent standards that have been adopted by the EPA. Since the 1970s, EPA has quickly granted every waiver – more than 40 – requested by California; however, the federal government has not acted on California’s clean car waiver petition for nearly two years.

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“As I said in October, delay means more damage to our environment and our economy,” said Governor Gregoire. “Delay means higher costs to reduce emissions and to adapt to the impacts of a warmer planet. It is time for the delays to stop.”

Ending delay is especially important in Washington, where nearly 50 percent of greenhouse gases are from cars and trucks.

The Washington standards are to be phased in, with the 2009 model year being the first required to meet the new standards. Putting the standards into action would mean removing the equivalent of 690,000 cars from Washington roads in 2020.

Source: Washington Governor