NRDC, Partners Sue to Block Trump’s Clean Cars Rollback

WASHINGTON – The Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental and health groups today asked the federal district court in Washington to block the Trump administration’s attempt to prevent California and other states from setting vehicle pollution standards.  

This case contests the Department of Transportation’s faulty argument that pollution standards are preempted by the law setting fuel economy standards. Other cases are set to follow.  

The following is a comment from David Doniger, a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): 

“Congress specifically gave California and other states the authority to fight vehicle pollution, and -- despite the wild imaginings of the Trump administration -- there’s nothing in the fuel economy law that blocks that authority.

“We will continue to fight for the right of state leaders to protect their citizens from harmful pollution and to address the threat of climate change. We are confident that at the end of the day, we will win.” 

For more background on the legal arguments, please see David’s blog here.  

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC