Texas Loses Third Court Battle to Block New Air Pollution Regulations

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Tony Kreindler, 202-445-8108, akreindler@edf.org
Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org

(Washington, D.C. – January 12, 2011) The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. today denied the State of Texas’ third attempt to block the implementation of greenhouse gas pollution control measures for the largest sources of pollution. At stake in the current case is a narrow federal action to ensure the largest sources in Texas can obtain construction permits. Environmental Defense Fund released the following statement:

“Three strikes should mean ‘you’re out’ in this case. The state government in Texas has now filed three cases in the federal courts to block EPA’s greenhouse gas pollution reduction policies, and it has been rejected three times. If Texas put half the effort into carrying out greenhouse gas pollution control measures that it put into fighting them, EPA would not need to be involved. Plus, Texas businesses could then enjoy the same certainty that businesses in every other state will have.”

- Steve Cochran
Vice President for Climate and Air
Environmental Defense Fund