Supreme Court Rules Against CA Air Quality Regulators

The Supreme Court rules against Southern California's air quality agency, which went too far in making firms buy low-pollution vehicles.

1 minute read

April 30, 2004, 7:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 yesterday that Southern Californian air-quality officials had overstepped their legal bounds when they required operators of private fleets (bus lines, trash haulers, etc.) in the region to purchase only low-pollution vehicles. The ruling was bitterly disappointing for officials in a region with one of the nation's worst air-pollution problems, which lately has been getting worse rather than better following decades of steady improvement. Also disappointed were 17 states and a variety of city, county, and state groups that filed friend-of-the-court briefs supporting California's South Coast Air Quality Management District. The court prohibited only regulation of private fleets, leaving it to a lower court to decide whether public fleets are fair game. The defeat of the 2001 rules -- which have put more than 8,900 low-polluting vehicles on California roads, and were projected by 2010 to eliminate 4,780 tons per year of polluting emissions -- was characterized by a lawyer for the industry groups who filed the lawsuit as "beneficial to the environment."

Thanks to Grist Magazine

Thursday, April 29, 2004 in The Los Angeles Times

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

7 hours ago - Anchorage Daily News

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

March 28 - Governing

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

March 28 - CBS News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.