In March President Donald Trump ordered a review of U.S. vehicle fuel-efficiency standards from 2022-2025 put in place by the Obama administration, saying they were too tough on the auto industry.
The push to weaken the rules by the Trump administration comes as automakers are worried that consumers shift to larger vehicles and low gas prices will make it expensive or impossible to meet the regulations. They also fear a prolonged fight with states over the rules could make revising their product plans difficult.
Democratic state officials have been increasingly aggressive in challenging Trump administration regulatory rollback efforts.
"In light of the critical public health and environmental benefits the standards will deliver, if EPA acts to weaken or delay the current standards for model years 2022-25, like California, we intend to vigorously pursue appropriate legal remedies to block such action," the state attorneys wrote in a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency including Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, Washington State, Oregon, and Rhode Island.
The EPA did not immediately comment.
Automakers including General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, and Toyota Motor Corp say the Obama administration did not conduct a proper review to ensure those rules are feasible.
Automakers have met with Trump administration officials in recent months and hope to reach a deal with California and other states on vehicle fuel efficiency standards.
California has opposed weakening the rules, threatened to pursue tougher standards unilaterally and could mount a legal challenge.
Read more at Coalition of 13 States to Challenge Trump on Vehicle Emission Standards
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