Center For Biological Diversity Sues In Federal Court For Bush Docs On Climate Policy, SUV CAFE Rule

[hatrack]

The Center for Biological Diversity filed suit September 27th against the White House Office of Management and Budget for stonewalling on a request for documents related to global warming and fuel-economy standards for SUVs and pick-up trucks filed under the Freedom of Information Act.

The documents at issue relate to fuel-economy standards for model year 2008-2011 SUVs and pick-up trucks sold in the United States. Despite a requirement to set gas mileage at the "maximum feasible level," the United States has the lowest standards of any industrialized nation.

"The hallmark of the Bush administration is 'secret government', often used to cover its violations of the law," said Deborah Sivas, director of the Stanford Environmental Law Clinic, the lead attorney on the case. "The Freedom of Information Act is designed to keep our government open and accountable. A victory in this case should bring important documents to light which show how the White House Office of Management and Budget influenced the fuel economy standards."

"Higher gas-mileage standards are a big part of the solution to global warming," said Kassie Siegel, climate program director for the Center for Biological Diversity. "The vehicles regulated by the fuel standards at issue would emit 2.8 billion tons of greenhouse gas pollution over their lifetimes - nearly six times the entire annual emissions of the state of California. The public has a right to know how and why the low standards were chosen."

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http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/1853/2/