In New Declaration, 12 State Attorneys General “Strongly Oppose” EPA Rollback of Clean Car Standards

Washington, D.C. — State attorneys general were joined by mayors nationwide today in releasing a declaration vowing to challenge the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest rollback -- national clean car standards -- in order to protect the environment and their residents from unhealthy air. The declaration from more than 50 cities and over 25 states makes clear their opposition to the rollback of a federal rule that sets targets for an increasingly clean, efficient and high-performance vehicle fleet through model year 2025.

“As state attorneys general, mayors and county executives, we – not Washington, D.C. – are primarily responsible for the transportation systems upon which our residents and our local and regional economies depend,” said the attorneys general and mayors in the declaration. “A clean, efficient and high-performance vehicle fleet is an essential component of these systems.”

“Given our responsibilities to our citizens, we strongly oppose and will vigorously resist any effort by the administration to prevent states from enforcing reasonable, commonsense emissions performance standards for vehicle fleets sold in their jurisdictions,” the declaration reads. “Whatever decisions the administration may make, we are committed to using our market power and our regulatory authority to ensure that the vehicle fleets deployed in our jurisdictions fully meet the promises made by the auto industry in 2012.”

The 12 attorneys general signing onto the declaration are: George Jepsen (CT); Karl Racine (DC); Matthew Denn (DE); Tom Miller (IA); Lisa Madigan (IL); Maura Healey (MA); Brian Frosh (MD); Janet Mills (ME); Hector Balderas (NM); Eric Schneiderman (NY); Ellen Rosenblum (OR); and Mark Herring (VA).

“EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has picked another senseless, destructive fight by undercutting tailpipe emissions reductions that industry, state and federal governments and the public worked together to put in place,” said David J. Hayes, executive director of the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center. “Pruitt leaves state attorneys general little choice but to fight back -- and add to their courthouse victory tally.”

BACKGROUND

In June 2017, a coalition of state attorneys general sent a letter to EPA threatening legal action if EPA attempts to weaken air pollution standards set for passenger cars and light-duty trucks for model years 2022-2025.

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About the State Energy & Environmental Impact Center:
The State Energy & Environmental Impact Center at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan academic center at NYU School of Law. The Center is dedicated to working towards a healthy and safe environment, guided by inclusive and equitable principles. The Center studies and supports the work of state attorneys general (AGs) in defending, enforcing, and promoting strong laws and policies in the areas of climate, environmental justice, environmental protection, and clean energy.