California Plans To Sue EPA Over Emissions, Again

August 1, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

California Attorney General Jerry Brown along with Connecticut, New Jersey, Oregon, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and New York City are teaming up to sue the EPA if the agency does not act soon to reduce pollution from ships, aircraft and off-road vehicles, AP reports.

The states involved in the lawsuit want the EPA to require cleaner fuel for airlines and ships, more fuel-efficient aircrafts, ships to travel at slower speeds and for off-road vehicles to comply with anti-idling standards. Brown said the states will sue if the EPA fails to enforce regulations within six months (180 day notice).

“Because Bush’s Environmental Protection Agency continues to wantonly ignore its duty to regulate pollution, California is forced to seek judicial action,” Brown said in a statement.

Aircrafts account for 3 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. While off-road vehicles produced about 220 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2007, roughly equivalent to 40 millions cars, according to the petition.

The lawsuit threat comes as the state is challenging the EPA in federal court over its decision last year prohibiting the state from imposing its own emission standards on vehicles. California sued the EPA in order to get a decision.

The state plans to curb its GHG emissions by 30 percent over the next 12 years. In addition, the state has issued tougher green standards for buildings, seeking to reduce energy consumption of buildings by 15 percent and to reduce water used for landscaping by 50 percent.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader