WASHINGTON, D.C. — Claiming the Bush Administration has failed to address emissions concerns for Mexican trucks, an environmental, labor and industry coalition filed a lawsuit May 1.

The move, intented to block — or at least delay — Mexican trucks from running U.S. highways, is led by Public Citizen, the Environmental Law Foundation and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The coalition is worried that when proposed federal regulations to open the U.S.-Mexico border take effect on Friday, trucks from Mexico will dramatically increase U.S. air pollution.

The plaintiffs claim at least 30,000 Mexico-domiciled diesel trucks are set to enter the U.S. in 2002, including many older, pre-1994 trucks that are the most egregious polluters.

“By failing to accurately assess the true environmental impact of allowing these trucks from Mexico throughout the U.S., the Administration has put the health of millions of Americans at greater risk,” says Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen.