Attorney General Lockyer Issues Statement in Response to Court Ruling Upholding Clean Air "New Source Review" Requirements

(SACRAMENTO) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia decision that strikes down a Bush Administration proposal to relax pollution control requirements for power plants and other major manufacturers:

"Today's court decision is a breath of fresh air in our fight to stop the Bush Administration from stifling our environmental and public health protections," said Lockyer. "The Administration's proposal would have bent the rules for some of the dirtiest air polluters. The court has said loud and clear that the Clean Air Act must be obeyed."

The Administration's proposal, a part of its so-called "clear skies" initiative, would have relaxed the federal Clean Air Act's "new source review" provisions, which require coal-burning and other dirty facilities to install modern pollution control devices when upgrades are made.

Lockyer in February 2003 filed a petition on behalf of the people of California and the Air Resources Board challenging the Bush Administration's plan because it put at risk California's stringent program to control emissions from older facilities that produce more air pollution. The petition was consolidated with those from numerous other states, municipalities and environmental organizations, and local air quality regulators in California.