Court Upholds EPA's Authority

When the U.S. EPA attempted to enforce more stringent air quality standards for 22 states and Washington D.C., several states and utilities challenged their authority to do so in court. The Washington DC. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the EPA; the agency has the authority to enforce more stringent regulations regarding nitrogen oxide emissions. The pollution from these states, located mostly in the Midwest and Southeast, drifts into Northeastern states making it difficult for them to meet air quality standards.