The Independent View: EPA and Other Agencies Meets the Courts Update

President Trump's U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been having their Day in Court.

Here is a New List:

California Fires First Shot In EPA Fuel Economy Rollback Fight

California with 16 other States at its side, on Tuesday, urged the D.C. Circuit to Overturn EPA's decision to revisit Obama-era Greenhouse Gas Vehicle Emission Standards in what Attorneys say is the Opening Salvo in a potentially lengthy, bitter War between States and the Trump Administration over the future Regulation of Auto Emissions. "This phalanx of states will defend the nation's clean car standards to boost gas mileage and curb toxic air pollution," California Gov. Jerry Brown said in a Statement Tuesday.

EPA & Corps Lose Bid To Delay Restart Of Water Rule Row

A Federal Judge on Tuesday upheld a Magistrate Judge's ruling resuming a Lawsuit in which a North Dakota-led Coalition of States is Challenging a controversial Obama-era rule defining the Clean Water Act's Reach, Rejecting the EPA Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (Corps) arguments in favor of Halting the Case for another year. Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland affirmed U.S. Magistrate Judge Alice R. Senechal's March 23rd ruling that Granted a Motion from Seven of the 13 States to continue the Lawsuit.

Pennsylvania House Panel OKs Rework Of Conventional Gas Well Rules

In the ongoing fight over how best to Regulate Natural Gas Drilling in Pennsylvania, a State Legislative Committee on Monday gave Preliminary Approval to a Bill that would Bar so-called Conventional Wells from facing the sorts of Regulations designed for Hydraulically Fractured Wells. The Bill, which is Sponsored by Rep. Martin Causer (R-McKean), is intended to create a Separate Regulatory Structure for Conventional Wells apart from Rules aimed at what the Industry says are the more Complex and Environmentally detrimental Operations required to Drill Deeper Wells. If Passed and Signed, a Court Case is in its Future.

Utah County Says Cropping Bears Ears Is An Economic Boon

The Utah County that includes Bears Ears National Monument asked a D.C. Federal Court Tuesday to allow it to Intervene in Consolidated Suits challenging President Trump’s Proclamation Shrinking the Monument’s Borders, saying the County’s Economy could be Harmed if the Challenges are successful and the Reduction is Overturned. San Juan County, Utah, said Trump’s December move that significantly Reduced the Size of Bears Ears complied with the intent of the Antiquities Act, which says Presidents only have the Power to Protect the Least Amount of Space of National Monuments.

Delayed Parts Of Obama-Era Methane Rule Won't Be Resumed

A Wyoming Federal Judge on Monday Declined to Suspend his earlier Decision to Delay the Implementation of certain Parts of an Obama-Era Rule Restricting Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Wells on Public and Tribal Lands while Environmental Groups and States Appealed the Delay, finding that the Status Quo should be maintained. U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl said the Stay is necessary to Preserve the Status Quo since the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Decision to Revisit the 2016 Waste Prevention Rule raised concerns about the possible Loss of the Emission Restrictions.