Lawsuit Filed on Auto Fuel Standards

The cities of Los Angeles and New York, the state of California and three consumer-interest groups filed suit in federal court Monday challenging the Reagan Administration’s easing of fuel economy standards for 1987- and 1988-model passenger cars.

Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn called the federal government’s rollback of the gasoline efficiency standards an “illegal and environmentally unconscionable” action that would drive up levels of automobile-related air pollution.

The suit, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, seeks to overturn the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s decision Oct. 2 to drop fuel economy requirements from 27.5 miles per gallon to 26 m.p.g.

The rollback was prompted by threats from GM and Ford that they would shut down U.S. plants manufacturing larger, less fuel-efficient cars unless the standard was eased.

Under federal rules, the fuel economy ratings of all of a maker’s cars must average out to the national standard or the auto maker can be punished by large fines.

The filing Monday marked the second straight year that the federal government’s decision on fuel economy has unleashed a battle with local governments and consumer groups. The traffic administration last year lowered the 1986 fuel economy standards from 27.5 to 26 m.p.g., leading Los Angeles, New York, Boston and Chicago and several environmental groups to sue, charging that the environmental effects of the decision had not been considered. The matter is still before the courts.