Corzine May Sue EPA (Updated)

by: Juan Melli

Thu Dec 20, 2007 at 08:47:05 PM EST

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson yesterday denied a request from California to implement stricter greenhouse gas emission standards than the federal government mandates. California had received more than 40 such waivers in the past. Apparently this was done as a favor to the auto industry in exchange for their muted opposition to the energy bill. This was the first time such a waiver request was denied. Over a dozen states, including New Jersey, have adopted the California standard, so in effect we were also denied the ability to adopt stricter standards.

The EPA knows the decision is bullshit. An internal powerpoint presentation had a slide addressing what would happen if they denied the waiver and were taken to court. It admitted: "EPA likely to lose suit".

Earlier today Assemblyman Reed Gusciora - the sponsor of the 2004 law that tied the state's emission standards to California's - wrote to Attorney General Anne Milgram to urge the state to join California "in any imminent litigation seeking to reverse the EPA's decision." California has announced the state will sue the EPA.

Governor Corzine is considering suing:

"It's a horrendous decision," said Corzine, who pushed New Jersey to adopt tougher standards on greenhouse gas emissions. "The fact that the EPA has used sort of crazy reasoning to get to their solution is just a horrible decision. Some of us are considering pursuing legal action on this score."