[ad_1]
The Trump administration reportedly threatened to obtain federal funding for highway construction and other transportation projects in California after the state "failed" to submit comprehensive pollution control plans required by the federal government. the law.
According to a letter from Sacramento Bee, Andrew Wheeler, a director of the Environmental Protection Agency, wrote to the California Air Resources Board that the state "failed to carry out the most basic tasks required by the quality act. since the 1970s. Wheeler cites in particular a backlog of reports that should detail the state's efforts to reduce pollutant emissions under federal law.
Wheeler warned that if California did not withdraw its "cluttered and unapprovable" reports and collaborated with the EPA to develop comprehensive reports, the administration could impose sanctions that would result in cuts in funding for roads and allow the federal government to develop its own plans.
The letter, dated Tuesday and requesting a response from state officials on Oct. 10, comes days after several California-led states have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging its decision to revoke a rule. decades old allowing California to have stricter car emissions standards than those required by the federal government.
In Tuesday's letter, Wheeler writes that California "has the worst air quality in the United States," claiming that 34 million people in California live in areas that do not meet federal pollution standards. Air – "more than double the number of people in the country."
Wheeler wrote that the EPA was working to "dramatically reduce" the backlog of state implementation reports and that California disproportionately represented one-third of the national list with 130 reports dating back several decades.
If implemented, the EPA sanctions could have a significant impact on California, which the bee of Sacramento reports receives more funds from the road than any other state.
The threat follows President Trump's trip to California last week, during which he stepped up his attacks on the state to deal with the homelessness crisis. He also threatened San Francisco with some type of violation report for his "huge pollution" flowing into the ocean from waste in the storm sewers, citing in particular used needles.
"It's a terrible situation, in Los Angeles and San Francisco," said Trump, according to an Air Force One pool report. "And we will give San Francisco – they are in total violation – we will give them notice very soon."
It is not known if San Francisco broke the rules.
[ad_2]
Source link