California Air Resources Board Sues EPA Over Failure to Implement ‘Life-Saving Clean Air Protections’

This is a press release from California Attorney General Xavier Becerra:

California Attorney General logoSACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, joined by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its failure to designate any areas of the country as having unhealthy levels of smog in excess of federal Clean Air Act requirements. These designations are critical because an area that is designated as not meeting the requirements must take active measures to improve its air quality. EPA was required to make these designations by October 1, but it failed to do so. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

“Smog causes various health problems, particularly in children, outdoor workers, and asthma sufferers. It is therefore imperative that the EPA implement these smog-reducing standards as mandated by the Clean Air Act,” said Attorney General Becerra. “The California Department of Justice refuses to let the EPA blatantly violate the Clean Air Act. We will continue doing everything in our power to ensure that the EPA does what it is supposed to do: protect our environment. Lives can be saved if the EPA implements these standards.”

“Public health research shows that smog can make people sick, particularly those most vulnerable, including children,” said CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey. “Despite reducing emissions from motor vehicles and other sources, improvements become more difficult as the climate warms. While CARB and the Air Districts do their part to protect public health, the federal government needs to do its part. The U.S. EPA has been illegally attempting to avoid its obligations on this critical matter for months, despite having everything it needs to keep making progress. Today’s action will help get us back on track.”

Promulgated by the Obama Administration in 2015, the smog standards are set at a level EPA determines is necessary to protect public health from the harmful effects of ground-level ozone, the primary component of smog. When the standards were adopted, EPA projected that compliance with the standards would create billions of dollars worth of health benefits every year, even after subtracting costs.

Attorney General Becerra filed the lawsuit along with the attorneys general of: New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota (by and through its Minnesota Pollution Control Agency), Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

When he assumed office, Attorney General Becerra made protecting the environment a top priority. Among other actions, he has announced a $9.5 million settlement with DIRECTV to resolve allegations that its California facilities unlawfully disposed of large volumes of hazardous waste; has called on the Trump Administration to enforce and keep in place a rule that prevents the dangerous waste of natural gas; and he has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for illegally delaying a rule that encourages automakers to produce vehicle fleets that meet or exceed federal fu el efficiency standards.

A copy of the complaint is attached to the electronic version of this release at oag.ca.gov/news.

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HOGRANCH
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HOGRANCH
6 years ago

This should be interesting that Mr. Becerra has taken more tax payer monies to sue somebody that he will never collect a cent off of, just the fires a lone will toss more pollutants into the air than smog problems. HE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE CRACKS IN THE OROVILLE DAM AN SPILLWAY, because when it lets go, it wont be an act of god, just another story of defered maintainence.

Buzzardsnest
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Buzzardsnest
6 years ago
Reply to  HOGRANCH

Just tax people In california for farting. That will fix the problem….

Joe Mota
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Joe Mota
6 years ago

Taking legal action against tyranny should be the role of the administration. With the narcissistic wannabe tyrant we are currently afflicted with refusing to do his job, it passes to the states. We should appreciate the many ways our system is designed to prevent wannabe tyrants from taking control.

Conservative Stupidity
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Conservative Stupidity
6 years ago
Reply to  Joe Mota

“the narcissistic wannabe tyrant”

i.e., Chump trump The Flaming Orange Satan.

Ralph
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Ralph
6 years ago

yah, all this pollution showed up when Trump got elected. Obama’s America smelled like roses and his EPA was barrel full of saints. You obviously have your head in the sand along with those fraud petiole’d up boys with the fresh pedicures and fancy suits Jerry Brown and Jarad Huffman. AKA: The Petiole Brothers!

Lone ranger
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Lone ranger
6 years ago

Should be a good fight, guess who is paying for attorneys on both sides, STUPID , our government is working great , some drugs legal here but not there, some emissions level ok there but not here, DUMB

THC
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THC
6 years ago

The state of California has some of the strictest environmental guidelines in the world, yet we also have six of the top 10 most polluted cities in the United States. I’m sure that’s all Trump’s fault though.

As of this year, here are the top 10 cities with the worst ozone pollution:

1.Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
2.Visalia-Porterville-Hanford, CA
3.Bakersfield, CA
4.Fresno-Madera, CA
5.Sacramento-Roseville, CA
6.Houston-The Woodlands, TX
7.Modesto-Merced, CA
8.Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK
9.Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
10.Las Vegas-Henderson, NV

Conservative Stupidity
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Conservative Stupidity
6 years ago
Reply to  THC

Except for useful pawn idiots and the rich, The Mango Mussolini Chump trump IS the absolute worst piece of shit President EVER.
;

Troll Patrol
Guest
Troll Patrol
6 years ago

I know, to bad we didn’t get Hillary. The clintons are a good honest people. Trumps the only issue I see. What a raw deal, almost had utopia.

Lone ranger
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Lone ranger
6 years ago
Reply to  THC

California has over half of the top ten, speaks volumes for the politicians running or ruining California, must be all the manufacturing, not, maybe just all the driving around aimlessly to sell black market drugs, driving 10 lbs to Los Angeles ,how marijuana leaves a gigantic carbon footprint

amimissingsomething
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amimissingsomething
6 years ago

California should be Indicted by the DOJ for RICO Offenses. California is an ongoing criminal enterprise and all of its leaders and workers should go to jail. “We the people” have an out of control monster running our state and they are only interested in taking away constitutional rights granted by our constitution. They are illegally taxing the residents of the state by not allowing our citzens to vote on tax increases

shak
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shak
6 years ago

You’re close, but not quite close enough.

The Constitution doesn’t grant us our rights. The Constitution limits the government.

The Government was formed by we the people to SECURE our natural born rights (which are mentioned in the Bill of Rights (BOR) as examples of what natural born rights). The BOR acts as a Sentinel for the people to always be in the know. WE define our natural born rights by exercising them. WE protect them by fighting tyranny, in court and in ballot. THEY secure our rights, WE protect and exercise our rights. This is why we’re supposed to elect candidates who know, respect, and obey the constitution created by WE the people.
This is why the Government is delegated certain duties and those duties only. They are to SECURE our liberty.
WE are the creators. THEY are the creatures that WE formed.

Party’s are the anti-constitutionalists. They each want the power to control. WE are supposed to control our own lives.

I agree about the RICO offenses. According to some sources, so does the DOJ. Hang on your hats, it’s going to be an exhilarating bumpy ride.

I hope this helps to break through that barrier that most of us have been blocked with. The constitution does not grant or deny, but instead it SECURES what is naturally ours, our rights.

Phyllis
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Phyllis
6 years ago

We had major fires in California in October, what was once bad air just got worse. More people more vehicles. Ever drive north on the grapevine down into the valley? It’s a cloud of smog

shak
Guest
shak
6 years ago

Are we being cued to let out a yippy for fattening the wallets of lawyers while the people go homeless? It is WE the taxpayers that end up paying ALL the lawyers in these ridiculous suits. Thank God that the DOJ put a stop to the Sue and Settle before the alleged foreign bank debt collectors aka environmentalist groups activate wholeheartedly like usual.

Mike
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Mike
6 years ago

I’ve said it before, it’s not trump that’s ruining America. It’s lawyers and lobbyists that are.