California sues Bush administration over greenhouse-gas limits

State sues Bush administration over greenhouse-gas limits
Bob Egelko,Matthew Yi, Chronicle Staff Writers

Thursday, November 8, 2007

(11-08) 09:06 PST SACRAMENTO - California sued the Bush administration today to force it to take action on the state's request to enforce a law limiting vehicle emissions of greenhouse gases, saying federal regulators have been stalling for almost two years.

"Congress generally intended that the (Environmental Protection Agency) make determinations of this type in a matter of weeks or months, not years," Attorney General Jerry Brown's office said in a suit filed on behalf of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state Air Resources Board.

The suit, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., noted that 11 other states with similar laws will be unable to enforce them unless the EPA grants California's request, which has been pending since December 2005. The federal agency has granted every request California has made for the last 30 years to implement state air-pollution rules more stringent than federal standards.

The state's lawsuit seeks a judicial finding that the EPA has engaged in unreasonable delay and an order to force the agency to act immediately to grant or deny California's application. The agency has promised a decision by the end of this year.

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