Court Finds State Did Not Meet Burden Under Clean Air Act

Sacramento, CA — A federal judge says California failed to meet its obligations under the Clean Air Act.

In his ruling, the judge said the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, the Air Resources Board, and the California Environmental Protection Agency violated the Clean Air Act in 1997 when they decided new rules weren´t needed to reduce pollutants from pesticides.

The agencies were required in 1994 to adopt regulations that would cut the emissions from their 1990 levels by 20 percent in five California air basins, including the San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento and Ventura.

Instead, they asked pesticide producers to reformulate some of their products to reduce the ozone-depleting emissions. Lawyers for both sides will meet to discuss possible remedies for the pollution.