Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced on March 9 that he has filed a motion to intervene with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in support of the Trump Administration’s efforts to eliminate certain carbon emissions regulations.
The case centers on the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding, which had been used by the Obama Administration to justify vehicle emission restrictions under the Clean Air Act. The EPA concluded earlier this year that it did not have statutory authority to establish this finding, prompting legal challenges from several special-interest groups seeking review by the D.C. Circuit.
Drummond, along with attorneys general from 24 other states, is seeking to support the EPA’s position in court. “Thankfully, the Trump Administration is correcting the outrageous overreach that was the hallmark of the Obama-Biden Administration,” Drummond said. “Oklahoma’s energy industry, and that of our nation, should not be hobbled by unnecessary regulations born from a radical climate agenda. A panoply of would-be vehicle emission standards would be disastrous for a robust oil and gas industry, adversely impact our economy, hurt the reliability of our electrical grids and undermine national security.”
Since taking office, Drummond has initiated more than 25 legal actions challenging environmental regulations related to tailpipe emissions and efforts aimed at eliminating gas-powered vehicles. In addition to Oklahoma, states joining this motion include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
The Oklahoma Attorney General focuses on combating crime and ensuring government transparency while upholding public legal services according to his official biography. Drummond leads these efforts with extensive legal experience and advocates for policies supporting sectors such as energy and education according to his official biography. The office also collaborates with state and federal partners on organized crime issues according to his official biography.
Looking ahead in this case before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will determine whether recent changes made by federal agencies regarding vehicle emissions standards will stand or face reversal.
