More Lawsuits Filed to Dispute EPA Endangerment Finding on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The last two weeks have seen a slew of lawsuits filed against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by states, associations, private organizations and even members of Congress challenging EPA's finding that greenhouse gas emissions are endangering public health and welfare. Issued on Dec. 7, EPA's finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare meant that the agency could regulate car and truck greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks under authority provided by the Clean Air Act and therefore would not require new legislation.
In all, lawsuits have now been filed by the states of Alabama, Texas and Virginia. Other parties filing suit include the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Mining Association, the Coalition for Responsible Regulation and several other associations, private organizations and a number of Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives. EPA was planning to take final action on new regulations in March. The deadline for filing suit challenging the endangerment finding was Feb. 16. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, D-Alaska, has also introduced legislation that would overturn the endangerment finding.