As expected, a group of 23 states has sued to block the Trump administration from undoing California's authority to set its own strict car pollution rules, as announced by the EPA last week.
Reuters reported the lawsuit filed in US District Court in Washington was the first round in a legal battle that many expected would outlast Trump's presidency.
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"Mr President, we'll see you in court," California attorney general Xavier Becerra said in a statement cited by the news agency.
The report noted the legal fight pits a Democratic majority state which has become the US environmental champion against a Republican president who wants to boost the economy by cutting regulation. The debate already is playing out ahead of the presidential election next year.
"Trump's latest move is bad for our air. Bad for our health. Bad for our economy," said California governor Gavin Newsom.
Reuters noted the state's vehicle emissions rules, more stringent than the Trump EPA's rules, are followed by a dozen other states that account for more than 40% of US vehicle sales.
Trump has said looser tailpipe emissions rules would make vehicles cheaper. Environmentalists argue Trump's rules will hasten climate change, and that emissions rules improve fuel economy, lowering consumer costs, Reuters added.
Following last week's EPA announcement, the states, led by California and joined by the District of Columbia, Los Angeles and New York City, sued the Transportation Department seeking a court order blocking the determination. The states suing include New York, Michigan, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Washington State and Massachusetts.
The Transportation Department declined to comment to Reuters.
Reuters noted the legal challenge did not address a parallel decision by the EPA to revoke a 2013 waiver California received under the Clean Air Act to set emissions standards. That does not take effect until late November.
Becerra reportedly said the Transportation Department's determination was unlawful, and that the administration misread federal law and ignored the intent of congress.
