States Sue EPA for Failing to Boost Particulate Matter Standards

California, New York City and 16 other states sued the EPA on Wednesday, accusing it of failing to beef up national air quality standards for particulate matter pollution.

The plaintiffs’ petition asks the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to review the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rule on particulate matter, known as PM2.5, arguing that maintaining the standards endangers the health of their citizens.

The Clean Air Act requires the agency to set and periodically review National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS, for PM2.5. The tiny pollution particles in question are emitted from sources such ...