The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Automobile Dealers Association on Tuesday filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. over the EPA’s decision to grant California a waiver under the Clean Air Act.
On June 30, 2009, the Obama administration granted California’s waiver request for its greenhouse gas emission standards for motor vehicles beginning with the 2009 model year. Under the Clean Air Act, California has special authority to enact stricter air pollution standards for motor vehicles than the federal government.
The U.S. Chamber and automobile dealers argue that granting California’s waiver would set dangerous precedent by allowing a state the authority to regulate global warming, which they contend should be handled at the federal level.