Attorneys General from 18 states signed a letter asking the EPA to enforce laws to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The Attorneys General asked Obama's new EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to act on the Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, which ruled that the EPA does have the authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the federal Clean Air Act.
In addition to Massachusetts, the letter was signed by attorneys general from: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
The day after they sent the letter, the EPA announced it will reconsider its decision to deny California permission to control greenhouse gases.
The denial of the waiver by Bush EPA administrator Stephen Johnson, was a significant departure from longstanding EPA practice, went against the recommendations of EPA staff, and was challenged by members of Congress.
Shortly after taking office, President Barack Obama requested that the EPA revisit the denial decision. The EPA is now taking public comment on the matter.