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November 9, 2007

Rhode Island joins suit against EPA

Rhode Island has joined California and more than a dozen other states in a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency.

After postponing the action because of massive fires, the California Attorney General is asking the EPA to act on the state’s request to allow it to set standards on tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions that are stricter than the federal regulations.

States have the option to adopt California’s pollution standards, but cannot do so until the EPA grants California a waiver to set its own regulations.

The state requested a waiver, under the provisions of the Clean Air Act, in December, 2005. The federal government has yet to act on the request.

Rhode Island and 13 other states have joined the suit as plaintiffs because they intend to adhere to California’s standards, which would require cars beginning with model year 2009 to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide they produce before they can be sold in state.

Joining Rhode Island in filing a motion to intervene are: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, Vermont, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.

-- projo.com writer Brandie M. Jefferson

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 8:15 AM | Permalink

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Greg | November 9, 2007 9:01 AM link

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