By: Laura Kelton
WASHINGTON (AP/TheLoop) – The Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to allow California to implement the first greenhouse gas standards on cars and trucks was appealed Thursday by auto dealers and business leaders.
This decision has allowed California to put in place a 2002 state pollution law setting tougher fuel efficiency requirements in cars and trucks by 2016.
California regulations have been in limbo for five years as they have tried to push tougher pollution control laws. While prior restraints involved the Bush administration, it seems now that The National Automobile Dealers Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are stepping in the way as they have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to review the EPA’s decision.
President of Clean Air Watch, Frank O’Donnell said, “It’s very clear that the Chamber of Commerce and the auto dealers hope to flatten the tires of the California car standards.”
It seems that the appeal is directed to undermine President Obama’s future policies to curb global warming, such as regulations to set fuel efficiency in cars and trucks at 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016.
California stands as a model in the movements toward a more green society. States that plan to follow suit in establishing greenhouse gas standards include:
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Mexico
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
Motions on the petition to stop the law are due in October. This petition would allow auto dealers and the Chamber to request to block the order at a later date.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
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