Just one year ago the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA had the power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions on cars and trucks.

Apparently not much had done by the EPA in the past year to reduce this contributor to global warming, so 18 U.S. states are seeking justice for the environment.

Last Year’s Ruling

In April 2007 the court ruled:

"Because greenhouse gases fit well within the Clean Air Act's capacious definition of 'air pollutant' we hold that EPA has the statutory authority to regulate the emission of such gases from new motor vehicles.”

But what looked as a promising start to the fight against global warming was neglected by the EPA…until now.

This Year’s Demand

The House of Representatives has subpoenaed the EPA chief, Stephen Johnson, who previously stated that the EPA would address the pollution issue by the end of 2007.

Since no progress has been publicly proven by the EPA since last year, Johnson has to submit documents that address whether greenhouse gas emissions are dangerous to humans, as well as what can be done to regulate the emissions.

The states who are suing the EPA are:

• Massachusetts
• Arizona
• California
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Maine
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington

The cities of Baltimore, Washington DC and New York City, as well as 11 environmental groups, have also signed the lawsuit.

The EPA has 10 days to turn over the documents or they will be taken to court.

You can read the entire article here.

The EPA has the best of intentions for our environment, and they are always working to protect our health. But if they say that they are going to do something, they need to actually do it.

Let’s hope they don’t get sued and stop working altogether, because then we’d lose an important ally in the fight against global warming.