AG Bonta, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenging its latest attack on California’s efforts to improve air quality and protect public health. Last week, EPA purported to reclassify four Clean Air Act preemption waivers previously granted to California as “rules” subject to Congressional disapproval and sent them to Congress in apparent pursuit of such disapproval. In a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Attorney General Bonta, Governor Newsom, and CARB challenge EPA’s unlawful reclassification of California’s waivers and ask the court to find EPA’s actions unlawful.  

“The Trump Administration is doubling down on its unlawful attack on California’s longstanding authority to address air pollution and adopt clean vehicle and equipment standards that protect our State and residents. For fifty years, both Democratic and Republican administrations have agreed that EPA Clean Air Act waivers are not rules, and EPA’s unlawful attempt to reclassify them — years after the fact — is an illegal attempt to take down these important tools. These latest illegal actions would mean more pollution, poorer air quality, more market uncertainty, and greater health risks for communities already overburdened by emissions. California will continue to fight against the Trump Administration’s lawless overreach and vigorously defend our authority to protect the health and well-being of our communities and the environment.” -AG Bonta