Clean Air News

Statement of Dan Jacobson, Legislative Director, Environment California

We are disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that Los Angeles cannot protect its citizens from harmful smog pollution by requiring public and private fleet operators to purchase and lease clean vehicles. Earlier this month the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found the LA region in "severe" nonattainment of the federal health standard for ozone smog. The agency also determined that LA has the worst smog problem in the nation. Cleaner vehicles are essential to solving the area's smog problem, and LA needs every tool available to tackle this very serious and persistent problem. The federal government shouldn't block LA, or any other area, from taking needed steps to protect its citizens from dirty air.

The court ruled 8-1 against the South Coast Air Quality Management District, LA's air pollution control agency. The full text of the decision is available at http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/02-1343.ZO.html.

Environment California is a statewide environmental advocacy group and the new home of CALPIRG's environmental work. For more information, go to www.environmentcalifornia.org.