Inslee and Durkan rip EPA chief Pruitt on fuel-economy rollback

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan joined other West Coast political leaders Monday in denouncing the Trump administration’s intention to dial back automobile emissions and fuel economy standards.

“Our job as governors and mayors is to boost our region’s economic opportunities and to make our cities and states cleaner and healthier for our residents and businesses,” leaders from Washington state, Oregon and California said in a joint statement. “This decision does the exact opposite, making America more dependent on oil while putting more lives at risk from pollution and shortchanging consumers at the pump."

Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt said Monday that the Obama administration had “set the standards too high” in requiring automakers to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by about one-third by 2025, achieving an average fuel economy of 54.5 miles per gallon in the process. A rulemaking process will determine the lower target levels.

Pruitt also set up a big fight with California over the state's right to set its own standards under EPA waivers. He said the EPA would adopt a standard for greenhouse-gas emissions and “cooperative federalism doesn’t mean that one state can dictate standards for the rest of the country.”

Washington is one of a dozen states that have signed onto California standards.

In addition to Gov. Kate Brown and Wheeler, the West Coast statement was signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2018/04/03/inslee-and-durkan-rip-epa-chief-pruitt-on-fuel.html?ana=e_ae_set3&s=article_du&ed=2018-04-03&u=ColXVN5SPzQtLHFP87ho2w07857290&t=1522797552&j=80837071

[asiliveandbreathe]

1. What a piece of work...guess those who are with stupid don't like clean air or water...

He said the EPA would adopt a standard for greenhouse-gas emissions and “cooperative federalism doesn’t mean that one state can dictate standards for the rest of the country.” But but but.....

Seems to me if I am in a state where the jet stream, or any other stream. is carrying pollution from a neighboring state..I can sue...isn't that what the East coast states are doing???

Makes me wonder what the hell are these pathetic people thinking...

[Wounded Bear]

2. IIRC, it was lawsuits by folks in the North East against the industrial states...

in the Mid West that started the modern environmental movement. Acid rain from all the steel plants and coal fired power plants.

There was a joke during the old Cold War about Switzerland, about how a neutral country is one that doesn't believe fallout blows sideways. One could say the same about pollution. It doesn't recognize the imaginary lines we paint on the Earth.