Fifteen states have sued the Trump government for its declaration of an ‘energy law’, with the argument that there is no emergency and that the order instructs regulators to circumvent illegal assessments of fossil fuels projects, which may damage the environment.
The executive command of the president of January 20, “Explaining a national energy law,“Given federal agencies to accelerate energy projects, such as drilling for oil and natural gas and mining for coal, although the wind and solar energy excludes. It stated that energy production did not meet the needs of the nation, although the American production is on record heights.
Friday lawsuitSubmitted to the Federal Court for the Western district of the state of Washington, argued that President Trump’s statement meant that reviews required by environmentalets such as the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Historic National Preservation Act were shortened or skipped.
Traditionally, the lawsuit said, emergency procedures were only employed in the aftermath of major disasters. “But now, produced by the non -supported and unlawful executive Order of the President by the President, several federal agencies try to use these emergency procedures in non -need situations,” the complaint said.
The court asked the court to declare the Directive illegally and to stop agencies of issuing accelerated permits under the order. It was submitted by Washington’s lawyers, California, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, all Democrats.
“The president’s attempt to circumvent important environmental protection is illegal and would cause enormous damage to Washingtonians,” said Attorney General Nick Brown van Washington. “This will not lower prices, increase our energy supply or make our country safer.”
A spokeswoman for Mr Trump, Taylor Rogers, said that only the president “has the authority to determine what a national emergency situation is, not state lawyers or the courts.” She said that Mr Trump “acknowledges that letting go of American energy is crucial for both our economic and national security.”
In addition to Mr. Trump, the lawsuit mentions the army of Daniel Driscoll and the heads of the Army Corps of Engineers and a federal agency called the advisory board for historical preservation.
A spokesperson for the army refused to comment. A spokeswoman for the advisory board for historical conservation did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
The lawsuit said that calling for emergency powers was reserved “for actual emergency situations – no changes in presidential policy,” and that the changes would lead to damage to the interests of the states, including clean drinking water, nature habitats and historical and cultural resources.
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