EPA expected to lose Calif emissions suit: documents The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency figured it would lose a lawsuit filed by California if the agency turned down the state's request to toughen vehicle emissions standards to fight global warming, according to documents released on Wednesday. The suit the documents envisioned was filed on January 2, after the agency rejected a petition by California seeking a waiver from federal law to impose more stringent standards for greenhouse gas emissions from cars, light trucks and sport utility vehicles. Fifteen other states were poised to follow California's lead, if the waiver had been approved. In EPA briefing documents released by the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the agency listed the likely impact of granting or denying a waiver. The documents accurately predicted what would happen next if the EPA rejected the waiver: The agency would face an "almost certain lawsuit by California." The EPA also said it was "likely to lose (the) suit." The federal appeals court in San Francisco has yet to issue a ruling....