California has filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency for wrongfully denying them a waiver to enforce stricter greenhouse gas emissions on automobiles within the state. The EPA stance is supported by the Bush administration which insists that states do not have the authority to set their own limits, even those stricter than the national guidelines. At least 15 other states are expected to join in the lawsuit.

This would be the first time that the EPA has outright blocked a waiver application from CA since 1967 when Congress gave the state the ability to obtain them. Because of California’s location, the consequences of global warming are very real and potentially devastating to the state. Rising water would erode the shoreline and top the existing levees, couple that with the melting of the sierra snow pack which could trigger a major water crisis, and it’s easy to see what stake CA has in better environmental policy.

EPA administrator Stephen L. Johnson denied the waiver on December 19 citing that emissions from new vehicles was something being addressed on a national level which would be more efficient overall than different regulations for different states. He dismissed the argument that California faces unique threats due to global warming.

“There’s absolutely no justification for the administrator’s action. It’s illegal. It’s unconscionable and a gross dereliction of duty.” ~ Attorney General Jerry Brown said Wednesday

Defending Johnson’s decision, EPA spokesman Jonathan Shradar stated in an emailed statement that the federal Energy Independence and Security Act “is a more beneficial national approach to a national problem, which establishes an aggressive standard for all 50 states — as opposed to a lower standard in California and a patchwork of other states.” California officials disagree and assert that their law is actually stricter than the national standard and would require automobile manufacturers to cut emissions by one-third in new vehicles by 2016 or reach an average of 36.8 mpg. By contrast the new national standards would raise the nationwide fuel economy standards to an average of 35 mpg by 2020.

Hmmm, it seems to me that the spokesman for the EPA would have his facts straight before sending an emailed statement defending a ludicrous ruling. Although, fact checking has not been high on the list of this administration’s priorities. In what is actually a coherent and spot on statement CA governor Arnold Schwarzenegger stated,

“(EPA officials) are ignoring the will of millions of people who want their government to take action in the fight against global warming. That’s why, at the very first legal opportunity, we’re suing to reverse the U.S. EPA’s wrong decision.”

So the EPA and the Bush Administration are Sinners for trying to curb positive measures to protect our environment and caving, once again, to corporate greed. This promises to be a long, drawn out battle that will quite probably go all the way to the Supreme Court. We will keep you updated.