Attorney General Jay Jones announced that Virginia has rejoined the lawsuit California Communities Against Toxics, et al., v. the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This move is aimed at stopping the EPA from enacting a rule that would let major polluters avoid regulations designed to keep air quality safe.
“The Clean Air Act was put in place to prevent major polluters from releasing toxic emissions into our air that harm our communities and damage our health,” said Attorney General Jay Jones. “When Attorney General Mark Herring joined along 26 other states nearly seven years ago, he did so knowing that the health of our Commonwealth was directly related to the health of our air, water, and soil. Donald Trump’s effort to create regulatory loopholes so major polluters can operate unchecked is disgraceful. As Attorney General, I will continue to leverage every legal tool at my disposal to fight back and protect our most vulnerable communities.”
The contested EPA rule would allow facilities categorized as “major sources” of pollution to be reclassified as “area sources.” This change could mean less strict oversight for those sites. According to officials, this could result in increased negative health effects from air pollution, especially among children, older adults, and other vulnerable groups.
The Office of the Attorney General of Virginia offers legal counsel and representation to state agencies while promoting public safety and defending constitutional rights. The office also provides civil rights enforcement and victim assistance programs across Virginia. It addresses issues such as human trafficking and domestic violence through legal advocacy and delivers consumer protection resources like identity theft and fraud reporting services. More details on these programs are available on the official website.
Virginia’s attorney general serves all communities throughout the Commonwealth by supporting public safety initiatives, offering support for victims, upholding civil rights laws, tackling fraud cases, and providing various legal resources for residents. For more information about these responsibilities and services, visit the official website.
