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Attorney General Hardy Myers has announced that the State of Oregon, in conjunction with California and several other states, has given the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formal notice of intent to sue the agency within 180 days if the Bush Administration does not set emissions-cutting measures for ocean-going vessels, aircraft and other non-road vehicles.

In a statement issued this week the Democratic attorney general took aim at the White House for not doing more to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

"Here in Oregon, we are ready to take the necessary steps to protect our planet from global warming, but the federal government continues sidestep the issue with red tape and bureaucratic delay," said Myers.

"Yet again the Bush Administration EPA is ignoring its duty to combat pollution. If we are serious about fighting climate change we must limit emissions from our transportation and commercial sectors."

Under federal law, the EPA is responsible for regulating emissions from a broad range of vehicles and engines including marine vessels, aircraft and construction, industrial and agricultural equipment.

In his statement, Attorney General Myers says California and other states including Oregon have submitted a number of formal requests for the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from these types of vehicles and engines, but the agency has repeatedly refused to respond.

The states of Oregon, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the City of New York jointly have written to the EPA warning that if it does not issue regulations within the next 180 days, they plan to sue the agency under the federal Clean Air Act for unreasonable delay in addressing the issue.

In addition, several environmental organizations including the Western Environmental Law Center, Oceana, Earth Justice, Friends of the Earth, the Center for Biological Diversity, International Center for Technology Assessment and the Center for Food Safety have also petitioned the EPA for a response on the issue.