Dairy leaders in California´s San Joaquin Valley are suing the regional air district over a new program that gives them a month to apply for pollution-control permits.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and the dairy owners disagree on the interpretation of a state law that ended agriculture´s exemption from having to apply for permits.

The district wants farms and dairies that emit more than 12 and a-half tons of pollution-forming chemicals a year to apply for a permit by July first.

The dairy industry argues that it should not have to apply for the permits for another two years.

That´s how long it would take the California Air Resources Board to complete an emission study and for the district to review the information and develop regulations.