SEEC Slams Supreme Court’s Decision to Stay EPA’s Good Neighbor Air Quality Plan

Washington, D.C. – The leaders of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui, Mike Quigley, and Paul Tonko, Vice Chairs Reps. Don Beyer, Matt Cartwright, Sean Casten, Chellie Pingree, and Katie Porter, and Chair Emeritus Rep. Gerry Connolly, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Ohio v. Environmental Protection Agency, which obstructs the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to combat deadly interstate air pollution.

“Today’s decision to stay the EPA’s ‘Good Neighbor’ plan represents yet another roadblock thrown up by this radically conservative Supreme Court to prevent the EPA from fulfilling its mission to protect our environment and our public health. EPA’s ‘Good Neighbor’ plan was designed to ensure residents of downwind states would not be the dumping ground of air pollution from upwind states. This dangerous pollution does not respect state boundaries, and EPA has the responsibility to protect the right of every American to clean air.

“By allowing our dirtiest power plants and industrial sources to operate business-as-usual, this decision will come at the cost of American lives. As even Justice Barrett said in her dissent, ‘The Court’s injunction leaves large swaths of upwind States free to keep contributing significantly to their downwind neighbors’ ozone problems for the next several years.’ And what grand legal theory did the Court base such an impactful decision on? As Justice Barrett goes on to say, ‘The Court justifies this decision based on an alleged procedural error that likely had no impact on the plan.’

“Time and time again, this Supreme Court’s conservative majority has gone out of its way to issue environmentally destructive decisions based on their whims, rather than sound legal theory. We fear for what other bedrock environmental laws and rules this Court may turn its attention to next.”