EDF, Allies Ask D.C. Circuit to Continue Scrutinizing Decision to Weaken Clean Car Standards

(Washington, D.C. – August 30, 2018) EDF and its allies are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to take a close look at actions underpinning the proposed roll back of America’s Clean Car Standards.  

The Clean Car Standards are one of our nation’s biggest environmental success stories. They reduce climate pollution, spur fuel efficiency gains, and save families money at the gas pump.

In April, then-EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt issued a Final Determination concluding that that these win-win standards should be rolled back — a decision which committed the agency to weakening these protections.

Pruitt’s determination was based almost entirely on auto industry statements, without any independent analysis. It directly quotes the auto industry 14 times and cites them 63 times – while never once citing any EPA analyses to support his harmful decision. Pruitt’s Final Determination also never once mentions the words “health,” “air pollution,” or “climate.”

In May, EDF and the Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Law Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Public Citizen, Inc., Sierra Club, and Union for Concerned Scientists asked the D.C. Circuit to review and set aside that Final Determination.

The Trump administration formally proposed to roll back the Clean Car Standards this month. The administration also asked the D.C. Circuit to dismiss the lawsuit on the Final Determination as untimely.

EDF and its allies filed a brief with the court yesterday opposing efforts from EPA and automaker trade associations to dismiss the lawsuit. A coalition of 18 states and an industry coalition including major power companies and two auto manufacturers also filed briefs in opposition yesterday.

“Pruitt’s fact-free Final Determination rejected the extensive evidence showing that Clean Car Standards are achievable, dramatically reduce pollution, and save Americans’ hard-earned money at the gas pump – and it commits EPA to roll back the standards” said EDF attorney Alice Henderson. “It’s vital that the court review this flawed decision.”

You can read more about the Clean Car Standards, including all legal briefs, on EDF’s website.