KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com | NM court allows emissions challenge to proceed
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Associated Press - September 11, 2009 3:35 PM ET
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A group of legislators and car dealers have the green light to challenge a state regulator's power to impose tougher emission requirements on new cars and trucks sold in New Mexico.
The state Supreme Court has ordered their lawsuit to move forward and sent it to a district court in Las Cruces. The legal challenge was filed in 2007, but it's been tangled in procedural questions.
The lawsuit contends the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board exceeded its authority by approving emission standards in 2007 that were more stringent than federal requirements. New Mexico is among 13 states that adopted California's air pollution rules for cars to fight global warming.
New Mexico's emission standards take effect with 2011 model cars.
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