[JURIST] In Wednesday's environmental law news, Pennsylvania has joined 14 other states suing the US Department of Energy (DOE) [official website], alleging that the agency is 6 to 13 years behind schedule in updating efficiency standards for some household and commercial appliance categories and has failed to issue any new efficiency standards at all since January 2001. The 1987 Federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act requires the DOE to periodically review and strengthen efficiency standards. Read the complaint here [PDF]. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has more.

In other environmental law news…

• A Massachusettes state Senator has introduced a bill that would offer a variety of incentives to consumers, companies, and state agencies that use vehicles that get good gas mileage or that run on alternate fuel sources. The incentives include tax credits and deductions, free Fast Lane toll transponders, access to the Interstate HOV lanes even when driving alone, and reduced parking-meter fees. The Boston Globe has more.
• The US Environmental Protection Agency [official website] seeks comments on a proposed rule [text] that would add 5 new sites to the National Priorities List [official website] in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) [text]. The sites, which would be added to the "Superfund" section of the list are: Olin Chemical, Wilmington,MA; Alternative Energy Resources, Augusta, GA; Lake Calumet Cluster, Chicago, IL; West Highway 6 & 281, Hastings, NE; Quendall Terminals, Renton, WA. There are currently 1,307 final and proposed sites on the list. Comments can be made here until November 14, 2005.