Wyoming joins lawsuit against EPA's 'sue and settle' practice

Wyoming is one of 12 states that will sue the Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday to force the release of EPA records related to some lawsuits by environmental groups. The suits, to be filed by Republican state attorneys general, seek to show the EPA cooperated with green groups through a process known as “sue and settle” to impose new or tougher environmental regulations. Sue and settle reportedly occurs when an organization files a lawsuit against an agency for missing a deadline for issuing a rule or hasn’t properly administered a regulation. Agencies can choose to defend themselves or settle with the petitioner. Industry and Republicans allege the EPA worked with groups to impose regulations without letting states get involved, according The Hill newspaper. Led by Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, the 12 states are seeking to obtain records of lawsuits that led to new regulations. Wyoming is concerned about the EPA process that led to a state plan on regional haze being denied and replaced with a more onerous federal plan, said Renny MacKay, press secretary for Gov. Matt Mead...more

Hey AGs, what about Interior and the Forest Service?