California is suing the US government after it barred the state from cutting the emissions from car exhausts.

Under the plans, the auto industry would have been required to cut emissions by one-third in all vehicles by 2016 - in turn improving fuel efficiency to around 36.8 mpg.

However, the proposal, which has the endorsement of a further 16 states, was rejected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a decision last month, with EPA Administrator Stephen L Johnson saying there was already a national plan in place to cut emissions.

Now, California is pursuing legal action to attempt to be allowed to set its own emissions rules and has submitted fresh data to support its case.

California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols told reporters: "I think we are coming back strong not only with our legal case, but our technical justification."

The lawsuit is expected to make much of the fact that the state requires especially stringent controls over vehicle emissions on the grounds that vehicles account for close to 40 per cent of its overall global warming emissions, the Guardian reports. This is nearly the double the proportion nationally.

Source:

California sues EPA over greenhouse gas regulations, 03/01/08
http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/business-14/119936305211590.xml&storylist=michigannews

California to sue government over car emissions, 03/01/08
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2235171,00.html

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