Advocacy groups challenge EPA landfill-related decision

Four environment-focused advocacy groups have filed a court motion challenging a recent decision by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to “suspend long-standing rules that limit hazardous and climate-warming emissions from landfills,” according to the groups.

An announcement by the Boston-based Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) says it has been joined by the Clean Air Council, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and Clean Wisconsin in a legal argument claiming that “suspending the landfill emissions rule was arbitrary and unlawful.”

Adds the CLF, “There is no reason to harm the health of everyday people so that businesses can further line their pockets and pollute our air. We ask the court to restore this rule immediately."

The Trump Administration EPA has ordered the agency to delay enforcing Obama-era rules designed to monitor, divert and more strictly limit landfill emissions of methane and other gases.

The 208-page court motion, which can be viewed here, concludes that the EPA has “identified no issue where reconsideration was required under section 307(d)(7)(B), his stay of the Landfill Rules was arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law. The Court should grant the motion for summary disposition on the merits and vacate EPA’s unlawful administrative stay.

Earlier in 2017, the same groups were successful in challenging an EPA decision to delay emissions rules that apply to oil and gas well drilling sites.