Washington Joining California Auto Emission Suit Against EPA

Tacoma, WA (AHN) - Washington is following California's lead of suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for not allowing states to adopt tougher car emission standards.

Gov. Chris Gregoire on Thursday said in a press conference that she asked Attorney General Rob McKenna to back California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's suit against EPA.

"The Bush administration's decision to deny states the right to pass environmental protections to fight global warming is wrong. Washington cannot wait for permission to do the right thing for our state's environment and future generations," Schwarzenegger said.

In November, Schwarzenegger filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. to force the agency to grant California's request to effect a state law reducing greenhouse gas emission from vehicles by 30 percent by 2016. The suit was filed because EPA has yet to act on the request for two years and prevents California from requiring auto manufacturers to build cleaner models of cars, trucks and SUVs.

Washington and 15 other states have adopted California's strict auto emission standards and some plan to file their own suit against EPA. The agency had said it will announce its decision on California's request.