ATTORNEY GENERAL HERRING JOINS COALITION OF STATES DEFENDING NATIONAL AUTO EMISSION STANDARDS

~ Auto industry is already on track to meet existing standards, which are estimated to save drivers $1,650 per year in fuel costs and reduce carbon pollution equivalent to 134 coal-fired power plants ~

RICHMOND(May 1, 2018) – Attorney General Mark R. Herring today joined a coalition of 18 states in suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to preserve the greenhouse gas emission standards currently in place for model year 2022-2025 vehicles. The standards save drivers money at the pump, reduce oil consumption, and curb greenhouse gases. The states contend that, in dropping the standards without supporting evidence, the EPA acted arbitrarily and capriciously, failed to follow its own Clean Car regulations, and violated the Clean Air Act.

“Virginia is already feeling the effects of climate change, especially in our coastal areas, and cannot afford a further delay of action to address this urgent threat to our economic and environmental well-being,” said Attorney General Herring. “Yet again the Trump administration has charged forward with a hasty, indefensible, and unlawful giveaway to oil and gas companies at the expense of Americans’ health and wallets.”

Beginning in 2010, the EPA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and California Air Resources Board began working with auto industry stakeholders to establish a single national program of greenhouse gas emissions standards for model year 2012-2025 vehicles. This program, finalized in 2012, allows automakers to design and manufacture to a single target instead of dealing with multiple targets in different states.

The federal standards the states are suing to protect, for model year 2022-2025 vehicles, are estimated to reduce carbon pollution equivalent to 134 coal power plants burning for a year and to save drivers $1,650 per vehicle. At present, the car industry is on track to meet or exceed these standards.

Last year, the EPA affirmed these standards were appropriate based on an extensive record of data. The California Air Resources Board also affirmed the standards were appropriate and that the federal government should continue to support a single national program for all states.

On April 13, 2018, however, the EPA, without evidence to support the decision, arbitrarily reversed course and claimed that the greenhouse gas emissions standards for model years 2022-2025 vehicles should be scrapped.

Today’s lawsuit was filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Joining Attorney General Herring in filing today’s lawsuit were the Attorneys General of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania (also filed by and through its Department of Environmental Protection), Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Minnesota filed by and through its Pollution Control Agency and Department of Transportation. This coalition represents approximately 44% of the U.S. population and 43% of the new car sales market nationally.

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