Washington AG McKenna, National AGs Urge EPA To Take Action On Greenhouse Gas Emissions

January 25, 2008 -- OLYMPIA -- Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna this week joined state and local attorneys across the nation in a letter urging the federal Environmental Protection Agency to exercise its authority to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.

In October 2003, Washington was one of 12 states, led by Massachusetts, to file suit (Mass. v. EPA) challenging the EPA's refusal to initiate rulemaking under the federal Clean Air Act to limit emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, from motor vehicles.

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In a 5 - 4 decision on April 2, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the EPA has ample legal authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and that its failure to do so was arbitrary. The court remanded the case to the EPA for further action consistent with this decision. To date, the agency has not taken action.

“We believe the EPA is unreasonably delaying action on the remand,” the letter says. “It is past time for the EPA to take action … and we urge you to move forward at once.”

The letter requests the EPA respond in writing by Feb. 27, 2008, to inform the attorneys general “specifically what the EPA’s plans are to comply with the mandate.”

The letter, authored by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, was signed by McKenna and 15 other state attorneys general, Baltimore’s city solicitor and New York City’s corporation counsel.

Source: Washington Attorney General