GROUPS FILE SUIT TO KEEP MEXICAN TRUCKS OFF U.S. HIGHWAYS

GROUPS FILE SUIT TO KEEP MEXICAN TRUCKS OFF U.S. HIGHWAYS    A coalition of labor, industry and environmental organizations has filed suit in San Francisco to stop federal regulations that would allow Mexican trucks onto U.S. highways.
   The suit claims the Bush administration failed to address environmental health concerns regarding the Mexican truck emissions, and seeks an emergency injunction to prevent the proposed regulations from becoming effective Friday.
   The lawsuit claims that at least 30,000 Mexican-based trucks will enter the United States in 2002, including many older trucks that would have emissions issues. These trucks are not subject to the same engine and fuel standards that impact U.S. trucks, the coalition said.
   The coalition, led by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Environmental Law Foundation and Public Citizen, seeks an injunction that would force the Bush administration to conduct an environmental impact statement, which would address public health concerns about the trucks before they would be allowed into the country.
   The suit claims the administration disregarded requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Air Act ‘in their efforts to allow these trucks access to all U.S. highways.’
   “Commercial trucks from Mexico will not meet this country's tougher emissions standards,” said James P. Hoffa, the Teamsters' general president. “WE should make sure that these trucks are safe and in full compliance with the same clean air rules that we hold American trucks to before we allow them to travel throughout the Southwest and elsewhere that already suffer from poor air quality.”
   The coalition pointed out that Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso and San Francisoc are in ‘non-attainment’ with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and/or particulate matter.