Democratic attorneys general in three Mountain West states are criticizing the Trump administration's plans to revoke a landmark climate rule.
Since 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)鈥檚 鈥渆ndangerment finding鈥� has held that certain greenhouse gases harm human health and the environment. Now, the agency wants to repeal emission regulations for vehicles, costs to consumers and private industry.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined Colorado and New Mexico鈥檚 top attorneys in speaking out against the proposed rule change this week.
鈥淭he EPA is proposing to bury its head in the sand and ignore the mounting cost of climate change for all Americans,鈥� Mayes
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser the EPA鈥檚 proposal 鈥渕isguided.鈥�
鈥淚gnoring common sense, including scientific research from our own government, is a recipe for disaster,鈥� he said in a
The EPA is challenging the underlying science used in the endangerment finding and said the rule has been used to justify more than $1 trillion in regulations. It has also said that the auto industry has suffered from 鈥渟ignificant uncertainties鈥� amid these emission regulations.
鈥淔inally, EPA is proposing to provide much needed certainty and regulatory relief, so companies can plan appropriately, and the American people can have affordable choices when deciding to buy a car,鈥� an agency stated.
This comes as the Trump administration rolls back policies promoting electric vehicles.
At the time of publication, the EPA had received more than 70,000 comments online regarding the plan. The agency had initially to host two full days of virtual public comments this week, but added two more to meet the demand.
The final rule is expected before the end of the year. Comments will be accepted through Sept. 22.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, 萝莉少女 in Colorado and KANW in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the .