WildEarth Guardians

Monday, March 24, 2014
WildEarth Guardians' in Court Tomorrow Challenging Coal Mine Climate Pollution

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to Hear Arguments in Suit to Reverse Environmental Protection Agency
Contact: Jeremy Nichols (303) 437-7663

Washington, D.C.—Tomorrow morning, March 25, 2014, WildEarth Guardians is scheduled to argue in federal court that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency violated the Clean Air Act when it refused to safeguard public health and the climate from coal mine air pollution across the nation.

Across the country, coal mines release massive amounts of toxic air pollution, including millions of tons of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.  In 2012, mines released the equivalent of nearly 28 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, as much as 8 coal-fired power plants.

In 2010, Guardians and coalition of other groups petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to list coal mines as a source of dangerous air pollution under the Clean Air Act.  The listing would have triggered new pollution limits, including limits on methane releases.

In April 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency rejected the 2010 petition and WildEarth Guardians filed suit.  Tomorrow, Guardians will argue to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit that the decision was illegal and ask the court to reverse the agency.

What:            
Court hearing in WildEarth Guardians lawsuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s refusal to rein in coal mine air pollution, WildEarth Guardians v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 13-1212

When:                        
9:30 A.M., March 25, 2014.

Where:            
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, E. Barrett Prettyman Courthouse, 333 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., USCA Courtroom.

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