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Environmental group sues EPA over Central Valley dust rule
| Thursday, Apr 13 2006 9:15 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, Apr 13 2006 9:15 PM
An environmental group sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday claiming a new regulation over air pollution in the Central Valley is too lax.
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Earthjustice is challenging the rule over particulate matter with a lawsuit filed in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
In particulate matter pollution, tiny specks of dust and dirt can linger in the air and become lodged in people's lungs, causing numerous health problems, such as asthma. Agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley, one of the nation's most polluted air basins, is one of the leading causes of particulate matter in the region.
The agriculture regulation earlier this year required farmers to water service roads, plant grass between trees and buy updated equipment to help cut down on dust pollution.
That is not far enough to significantly cut down on pollution, said Paul Cort of Earthjustice.
"As approved, most growers and ranchers could do nothing and still comply with the rule, not improving air quality at all," he said.
The EPA's lawyers have not had a chance to look at the lawsuit and therefore can't comment on it, spokeswoman Wendy Chavez said.