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| E.P.A. to Accuse California of ‘Significant’ Air and Water Problems | E.P.A. to Accuse California of ‘Significant’ Air and Water Problems |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Thursday, pressing the president’s complaints about homelessness in California, will demand the state improve the way it deals with human waste, arsenic and lead in water as it raises the stakes in an escalating war between the federal government and the country’s most populous state. | WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Thursday, pressing the president’s complaints about homelessness in California, will demand the state improve the way it deals with human waste, arsenic and lead in water as it raises the stakes in an escalating war between the federal government and the country’s most populous state. |
| In a letter to Gov. Gavin C. Newsom of California, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency accused the state of “deficiencies that have led to significant public health concerns” and gave California 30 days to respond to a litany of accusations about its water and air quality. | In a letter to Gov. Gavin C. Newsom of California, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency accused the state of “deficiencies that have led to significant public health concerns” and gave California 30 days to respond to a litany of accusations about its water and air quality. |
| It is the latest in a series of aggressive actions that the Trump administration has taken against California since the state surprised the E.P.A. by signing a deal with four automakers that opposed a federal plan to roll back a national vehicle tailpipe pollution standard. President Trump has personally intervened to add urban California’s problem with homelessness to his litany of complaints. | It is the latest in a series of aggressive actions that the Trump administration has taken against California since the state surprised the E.P.A. by signing a deal with four automakers that opposed a federal plan to roll back a national vehicle tailpipe pollution standard. President Trump has personally intervened to add urban California’s problem with homelessness to his litany of complaints. |
| It comes days after the E.P.A. administrator, Andrew Wheeler, warned that the administration would withhold federal highway funds from California if it did not address a lengthy backlog. Last month Mr. Trump said the administration would revoke the state’s legal authority to set its own regulations on planet-warming emissions from automobile tailpipes. | It comes days after the E.P.A. administrator, Andrew Wheeler, warned that the administration would withhold federal highway funds from California if it did not address a lengthy backlog. Last month Mr. Trump said the administration would revoke the state’s legal authority to set its own regulations on planet-warming emissions from automobile tailpipes. |
| Speaking in New York this week, Governor Newsom said Mr. Trump’s E.P.A. had become “weaponized.” | Speaking in New York this week, Governor Newsom said Mr. Trump’s E.P.A. had become “weaponized.” |
| The Trump administration also has taken aim at California in other ways, including rejecting requests by the state for more funding to address its homeless problem, and once threatening to cut off critical federal wildfire aid to the state. | The Trump administration also has taken aim at California in other ways, including rejecting requests by the state for more funding to address its homeless problem, and once threatening to cut off critical federal wildfire aid to the state. |
| The E.P.A. letter, first reported by the Washington Post, lays out a multitude of accusations and says the state’s lack of response to its homeless crisis “prompted E.P.A. to review other programs.” It cites numerous pollution discharges into public water systems, and while the letter does not threaten to take funding away from California, it notes that California received $1.16 billion in federal water funds over the past five years. | The E.P.A. letter, first reported by the Washington Post, lays out a multitude of accusations and says the state’s lack of response to its homeless crisis “prompted E.P.A. to review other programs.” It cites numerous pollution discharges into public water systems, and while the letter does not threaten to take funding away from California, it notes that California received $1.16 billion in federal water funds over the past five years. |
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| “E.P.A. is concerned that California’s implementation of federal environmental laws is failing to meet its obligations,” the letter states and asks officials for a “remedial plan.” | “E.P.A. is concerned that California’s implementation of federal environmental laws is failing to meet its obligations,” the letter states and asks officials for a “remedial plan.” |
| The E.P.A. did not respond to a request for comment. Sarah Lovenheim, a spokeswoman for California’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, declined to comment. California has 30 environmental lawsuits pending against the Trump administration, most in an effort to stop the rollbacks of climate change regulations enacted under the Obama administration. | The E.P.A. did not respond to a request for comment. Sarah Lovenheim, a spokeswoman for California’s attorney general, Xavier Becerra, declined to comment. California has 30 environmental lawsuits pending against the Trump administration, most in an effort to stop the rollbacks of climate change regulations enacted under the Obama administration. |
| David Doniger, senior strategic director of the climate and energy program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group, called the letter “an obvious political vendetta against California.” | David Doniger, senior strategic director of the climate and energy program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group, called the letter “an obvious political vendetta against California.” |
| Mandy Gunasekara, a former policy adviser in the E.P.A. under the Trump administration, defended the letter, saying California had “failed its citizens in the most basic role of any state, keeping them healthy and safe.” She said if California would not fix its problems, Mr. Trump would “step in.” | Mandy Gunasekara, a former policy adviser in the E.P.A. under the Trump administration, defended the letter, saying California had “failed its citizens in the most basic role of any state, keeping them healthy and safe.” She said if California would not fix its problems, Mr. Trump would “step in.” |
| California has frustrated the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back Obama-era national standards for automobile tailpipe emissions by adhering to an even more stringent standard. In July the state announced that four automakers had signed a deal with California to comply with its tighter standards if the national rollback succeeds. | California has frustrated the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back Obama-era national standards for automobile tailpipe emissions by adhering to an even more stringent standard. In July the state announced that four automakers had signed a deal with California to comply with its tighter standards if the national rollback succeeds. |
| Mr. Trump then announced he would revoke California’s authority to set its own rules for setting tailpipe emissions levels, and the state hit back with a lawsuit, joined by 23 other states that also want tougher standards. | Mr. Trump then announced he would revoke California’s authority to set its own rules for setting tailpipe emissions levels, and the state hit back with a lawsuit, joined by 23 other states that also want tougher standards. |
| Mr. Newsom this week said California’s ability to set its own rules was critical to the state addressing climate change. | Mr. Newsom this week said California’s ability to set its own rules was critical to the state addressing climate change. |
| “If they can eliminate the waiver that affords us the opportunity to compete globally, that will have devastating impacts on our ability to continue to lead in this space,” he said. | “If they can eliminate the waiver that affords us the opportunity to compete globally, that will have devastating impacts on our ability to continue to lead in this space,” he said. |
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