D.C. Circuit Temporarily Postpones Oral Argument on Carbon Pollution Standards from New Power Plants

(Washington, D.C. – March 30, 2017) The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an order today that temporarily postpones oral argument in the legal challenges to the Environmental Protection Agency’s carbon pollution standards for new, modified, and reconstructed power plants.

The oral arguments, which had been scheduled for April 17, will be delayed while the court decides a procedural motion filed on Tuesday by the Trump Administration.

The Trump Administration filed a motion for abeyance seeking to indefinitely suspend the litigation, pursuant to this week’s executive order attacking a wide array of climate and public health protections. 

Today’s order does NOT grant that motion. It does announce that oral argument is deferred “pending disposition” of the motion.

The order does not affect the ongoing litigation over the Clean Power Plan, which establishes our only nationwide limits on carbon pollution for existing power plants.