NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Aug. 1 that he is leading a coalition of 16 state attorneys general in a lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Administrator Scott Pruitt.
According to the lawsuit, the EPA and Pruitt illegally stalled the designation of areas impacted by unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone, or smog. Schneiderman noted this designation is important because it will protect New Yorkers and other Americans from dangerous pollution.
“One in three New Yorkers are breathing dangerous levels of smog pollution pouring in from other states. Yet again the Trump EPA has chosen to put polluters before the health of the American people,” Schneiderman said. “By illegally blocking these vital clean air protections, Pruitt is endangering the health and safety of millions – but attorneys general have made clear: we won’t hesitate to fight back to protect our residents and our states.”
Joining Schneiderman in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington state and the District of Columbia.