The D.C. Circuit said Wednesday that it will hold off issuing a ruling on EPA’s power plant climate rule at the request of the Trump administration.
Details: A three-judge panel put the case in abeyance for 60 days, a pause the Trump administration will use to launch a repeal effort. It is likely EPA will seek to extend the pause when it expires.
The short order directed the parties to indicate their next steps by April 21 and did not further explain its reasoning. It was issued by Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, an Obama appointee, and Judges Neomi Rao, a Trump appointee, and Bradley Garcia, a Biden appointee.
Background: Challenges to the power plant climate rule, Reg. 2060-AV09, were placed on a fast track that meant the panel sat for oral arguments in early December. That left virtually no time for the court to issue a ruling before President Donald Trump took office, and earlier this month EPA asked the court to hold off issuing a decision while it reconsiders the rule.
