Fifteen states demanded that the Trump administration for their declaration of an “energy emergency”, arguing that there is no emergency and that the order instructs regulators to illegally overlook the reviews of fossil fuel projects, damaging the environment.
The executive order of the president of January 20, “declaring an emergency of national energy,” he directed to federal agencies that accelerate energy projects such as drilling for oil and natural gas and mining for coal, although it excluded wind and solar energy. He declared that energy production does not meet the needs of the nation, although US production has been in maximum records.
Friday’s claim, presented at the Federal Court for the Western District of the State of Washington, argued that President Trump’s statement meant that the reviews required by environmental laws such as the Clean Water Law, the Law of Endangered Species and the Law of Historical National Preservation were shortened or omitted.
Traditionally, the demand said, the emergency procedures were used only after the great disasters. “But now, driven to the most trembling limbs by the non -compatible and illegal executive order of the president, multiple federal agencies now seek 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 Washington Attorney General, California, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, all of which 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 from Washington. “This will not reduce prices, increase our energy supply or make 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 our 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 Historical Preservation Advisory Council did not immediately respond to requests for comments.
The demand said that invoking emergency powers was reserved “for real emergencies, not changes in presidential policy”, and that changes would result in damage to the interests of the states, including clean drinking water, wildlife habitats and historical and cultural resources.
