Fifteen states demanded to the Trump administration for its declaration of “energy emergency”, arguing that it is not an emergency and that the order indicates to regulators to illegally avoid the reviews of fossil fuel projects, the potential that the environment damages.
The executive order of the president of January 20, “declares an emergency of national energy,” ordered federal agencies to accelerate energy projects such as drilling for oil and natural gas and mining for coal, although it excluded wind and solar energy. He decided that energy production was not with nations, only although American production has been at maximum records.
Friday’s lawsuit, presented at the Federal Court for the West District of Washington, argued that President Trump’s statement meant reviews required by environmental laws such as the Clean Water Law, the SPEPS Law in danger of extinction and the historical.
Traditionally, the demand said, the emergency procedures were used only after the great disasters. “But now, driven to the most trembling extremities by the non -backed and illegal executive order of the president, multiple federal agencies now see to widely use these emergency procedures in non -emergency situations,” the complaint said.
The lawsuit asked the Court to declare the illegal directive and prevent the agencies from issuing permits issued under the order. It was presented by Washton Attorney General, California, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, all of whom are Democrats.
“The president’s attempt to avoid important environmental protections is illegal and would cause immense damage to the Washingtonians,” said Attorney General Nick Brown or Washington. “This gained lower prices, increases our energy supply or makes our country safer.”
A spokeswoman for Mr. Trump, Taylor Rogers, said that only the president “has the authority to determine what a national emergency, non -state prosecutors or the courts is.” She said Trump “acknowledges that unleashing American energy is crucial for economic and national security.”
In addition to Mr. Trump, the lawsuit appoints Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll and the heads of the Army Corps of Engineers and a federal agency called Historical Preservation Advisory Council.
An army spokesman declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the Historic Advisory Council
The lawsuit said that invoking emergency powers was reserved “for real emergencies, no changes in presidential policy”, and that changes would result in damage to the interests of the states, including clean drinking water, wildlife resource.