(Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Justice said on Friday it has sued California in a bid to end the state’s enforcement of emissions standards for trucks.
The DOJ said it filed two complaints this week in federal courts against the California Air Resources Board on the state’s enforcement of preempted emissions standards through its so-called “Clean Truck Partnership” with heavy-duty truck and engine manufacturers.
“These actions advance President Donald J. Trump’s commitment to end the electric vehicle (EV) mandate, level the regulatory playing field, and promote consumer choice in motor vehicles,” it said in a statement.
Earlier this week, four major truckmakers, including Daimler and Volvo, also sued the state to block it from enforcing the strict emissions standards Trump declared void in June.
Trump, a Republican, is trying to curb California’s power under the federal Clean Air Act to set tighter pollution limits than federal law requires, and Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s ability to promote electric vehicles to fight climate change.
“President Donald Trump and Congress have invalidated the Clean Air Act waivers that were the basis for California’s actions. CARB must respect the democratic process and stop enforcing unlawful standards,” said Adam Gustafson, the DOJ’s acting assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division.
(Reporting by Andy Sullivan and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Caitlin Webber, Rod Nickel)
