Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in a case challenging the ability of state and local officials to protect public health and the environment from the serious harm caused by air pollution from motor vehicles. At issue is whether the federal Clean Air Act prevents states and local governments from requiring large fleets to purchase cleaner vehicles.

Timothy Dowling, Chief Counsel of Community Rights Counsel, applauded South Coast's efforts:

"State and local officials need flexibility in addressing the scourge of air pollution, which claims tens of thousands of lives and imposes billions of dollars in economic costs across the country each year. Motor vehicles are the largest source of air pollution in the United States. Fleet purchasing rules like South Coast's are an eminently reasonable and entirely legal means of achieving cleaner, healthier air for our communities."

Community Rights Counsel (CRC) filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case on behalf of state and local officials across the country in support of South Coast. CRC is a nonprofit public interest law firm in Washington, D.C. that helps state and local governments defend constitutional challenges to community protections.

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