Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown criticized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for issuing a final rule rescinding the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which had concluded that greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles contribute to climate change and harm public health.
Brown said the decision reverses years of scientific research and legal precedent and removes federal authority to regulate vehicle emissions, raising concerns about environmental and health impacts.
The Endangerment Finding followed the 2007 Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA, which affirmed the EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases. Brown noted that he previously joined a multistate coalition opposing the proposed rollback, arguing that it conflicted with established law and scientific consensus. He said his office will continue exploring legal options in response to the rule change.
