American Farm Bureau Federation, et al. v. EPA

Case Updates

The D.C. Circuit struck down the EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standards for fine particulate matter, ruling that the standards were contrary to law and unsupported by adequately reasoned decision-making. This ruling in favor of the environmentalists could unnecessarily impose significant compliance costs and regulatory burdens on industry.

NCLC intervened in a lawsuit by various environmentalist groups challenging the EPA’s revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter (PM Rule). Apart from the 24 hour standard which NCLC independently challenged as impermissibly restrictive in light of the underlying science, the balance of the rule properly calibrates the competing interests at stake. Because a ruling in favor of the environmentalists would unnecessarily impose significant compliance costs and regulatory burdens on industry, NCLC has defended the revised PM Rule with the exception of the 24 hour standard.