Story perspectives

24 States Sue to Reinstate EPA's Emission Authority

3/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

A coalition of 24 states filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to reinstate the 2009 endangerment finding and restore the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority over greenhouse gas emissions.
The suit argues the EPA acted unlawfully by rescinding the endangerment finding.
Attorney General Rob Bonta said the repeal undermines decades of scientific consensus and poses immediate dangers to public health and safety.

History

Historical Context

In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts v. EPA that greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, granting the EPA authority to regulate them. Following this, in December 2009, the EPA issued an Endangerment Finding, declaring that six greenhouse gases threaten public health. A recent lawsuit by 24 states seeks to restore this regulatory power, emphasizing its importance for climate change mitigation.

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Story summary

A coalition of 24 states filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to reinstate the 2009 endangerment finding and restore the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority over greenhouse gas emissions.
The suit argues the EPA acted unlawfully by rescinding the endangerment finding.
Attorney General Rob Bonta said the repeal undermines decades of scientific consensus and poses immediate dangers to public health and safety.

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