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The Trump administration threatens to suspend California's funding for roads for its air pollution – the latest initiative in a political confrontation while the state is struggling to maintain tighter standards in terms of air pollution. vehicle emissions.
The Trump Environmental Protection Agency has lowered the stricter standards that California is trying to maintain, resulting in a trial California and 23 other states on Friday.
In a letter to California executives, the administrator of the EPA Andrew Wheeler
Andrew WheelerReflecting the rule of healthy water does not concern the protection of farmers Night energy: Trump officials formally revoke the exemption granted in California for emissions | Wheeler of EPA eludes his questions about San Francisco's targeting of homelessness | 2020 Dems fights at second climate forum EPA President avoids asking questions about environmental action against San Francisco MORE declared to the State that it owed the Agency an urgent turnaround in the number of late air pollution control projects.
"Since the 1970s, California has not been able to carry out its most basic Clean Air Act tasks. The air quality in California is the worst in the United States, "wrote Wheeler, noting that the state has 34 million residents who breathe and do not meet national standards of quality. the ambient air.
The letter was first reported by the Bee Sacramento late monday
The more stringent vehicle emission standards that California is trying to maintain are related to its efforts to clean up the state's air.
"The standards we are enforcing are necessary to protect public health and well-being, not just because we care about the future of the planet or polar bears, but because we have really need these very clean cars for the health standards set by the federal government that we now violate very regularly in Southern California and in the San Joaquin Valley, "said Mary Nichols, President of the California Air Resources Board , at a recent press conference announcing the intention to fight Trump's setbacks.
The EPA also revoked waiver California has had about 50 years of more stringent standards.
Although California has said it will fight to preserve state rights, the state may lose $ 19 billion in transportation funds that are expected to be funded between 2016 and 2020.
Wheeler said the state had 130 obsolete plans in various regions, some of which date back decades. He gave the state until October 10 to respond, nodding to withhold funds from federal highways.
"We certainly want to avoid these triggers, but our main concern must be to provide clean air for all Americans," wrote Wheeler.
California does not have air quality standards that allow it to continue to receive highway funds, but the EPA could withhold funds if the state does not submit an acceptable plan or did not implement the measures set out therein.
Highway funding may be withheld 18 months after the EPA determined that the state's efforts were inadequate.
This story is in development and will be updated.
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