An environmental advocacy group is suing the US government for refusing to supply documents over possible ‘backroom deals’ made with the airline industry.
The Center for Biological Diversity is seeking answers about how cosy the relationship is with Trump Administration officials and aircraft makers and airlines.
The organization made a Freedom of Information Act request for emails and other documents earlier this year but the government has failed to make them available.
It is seeking public records from the U.S. State Department, the FAA, and Environmental Protection Agency relating to the Administration’s failure to mandate emission standards for airplanes as is required under the Clean Air Act.
"Americans deserve to know what backroom deals might be killing efforts to curb dangerous airplane pollution," said Bill Snape, senior counsel at the Center’s climate law institute.
"By shirking its legal duty to address airplane emissions, the Trump Administration is slipping the aviation industry a free pass to dirty our air and heat up the planet."
International aviation body the ICAO last year proposed to set emission standards for all airlines, and the Center’s lawsuit is also requesting documents relating to the government’s stance on this.
It warned that US manufacturers like Boeing could find it tough to sell their aircraft internationally if the US government fails to set similar emission standards.
