"First Ocean Acidification Lawsuit Filed Against EPA"

"SEATTLE, Washington -- The nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity today filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Administrator Lisa Jackson over the agency's failure to recognize the impacts of ocean acidification on waters off the state of Washington.

Brought under the federal Clean Water Act, the lawsuit is the first legal action in the country to address ocean acidification. The case tests whether the reach of the Clean Water Act extends to the greenhouse gas carbon dixoide, CO2, as a pollutant.

'Ocean acidification is global warming's evil twin,' said Miyoko Sakashita, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity's oceans program. 'The EPA has a duty under the Clean Water Act to protect our nation's waters from pollution, and today, CO2 is one of the biggest threats to our ocean waters.'"

Environment News Service had the story May 14, 2009.