California and many other states will not be allowed at this time to pursue state specific restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions from cars, small trucks and SUVs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Wednesday denied California’s request for a waiver of the less stringent standards of the Federal Clean Air Act. Under the Federal Clean Air Act, California is allowed to seek a waiver in order to implement its own standards, and if a waiver is granted, other states may implement either the federal standards or those adopted by California. As many as twelve states had made plans to adopt the California standards.
Previously, California sued the EPA for a determination of whether it could impose stricter standards adopted by California’s Air Resources Board in 2004. EPA Administrator, Stephen L. Johnson, referenced new legislation (The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) that has been approved by Congress and signed by President Bush on Wednesday that will impose a national standard by requiring auto manufacturers to establish an industry-wide average fuel efficieny for these types of vehicles.
Source: http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/12/epa-denies-waiver-for-california-auto.php
