Deck the Hauls

U.S. High Court Will Hear Mexican Truck Pollution Case

The U.S. Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will wade into a dispute over whether tens of thousands of highly polluting Mexican trucks should be allowed to cross the border and deliver goods throughout the U.S. The Bush administration, arguing the free-trade point of view, welcomes the trucks, but enviros and union members say they would dramatically worsen pollution in cities such as Los Angeles and Houston, which are already struggling with dirty air. In January, a federal court ruled that the administration should have conducted a comprehensive environmental impact study to determine what effect the Mexican trucks would have on U.S. air quality. The administration appealed that decision, arguing that it interfered with the president's power over foreign affairs. To the chagrin of enviros, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case next year.