A coalition of environmental groups has accused EPA in court of dragging its feet on implementing the Biden-era particulate matter standard.
The new lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Northern California seeks to force EPA to act — even as the Trump administration is hoping a federal court will strike down the regulation.
“EPA’s delay seriously endangers the health and wellbeing of millions of people who breathe unhealthily polluted air,” the groups wrote.
EPA in February 2024 significantly strengthened the national air quality standard for fine particulate matter, tiny particles of soot, dust and smoke that are connected to respiratory and cardiovascular ailments and premature deaths. The rule reduced the annual average limit from 12 micrograms per cubic meter — a level set during the Obama administration — to 9 micrograms.
