The DC Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday, Dec. 9, rejected the Portland Cement Association’s attempt to weaken Clean Air Act standards, in a suit filed on behalf of Friends of Hudson, a local environmental group, and national groups such as the Sierra Club. Susan Falzon of Friends of Hudson commented in a press release from Earthjustice. “With this decision concerned citizens, particularly those in host communities, can finally breathe a little easier,” she said. Law360 reports:

"The D.C. Circuit on Friday ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider part of a rule regulating emissions from cement kilns, the third-largest source of mercury emissions, but otherwise largely rejected the cement industry's challenges to the rule. The court did not, however, stay the rule pending reconsideration, finding that "it is unlikely that significant changes will be made to the standards upon reconsideration."