Three environmental groups filed a lawsuit last week challenging 61 highway projects they say violate federal restrictions on road-building in the Atlanta area.

The Sierra Club of Georgia, Georgia Conservancy and Georgians for Transportation Alternatives are suing over what they see as an attempt by state, regional and federal transportation officials to subvert the national Clean Air Act, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
About a year ago, 13 metro Atlanta counties lost the right to spend federal money on new highway projects until the region has a plan to meet federal pollution limits. The advocacy groups filed an official notice of intent to sue in November. Talks between the groups and transportation officials broke down.
The groups contend that transportation officials improperly bent the rules to push through the so-called “grandfathered” projects, worth $700 million, despite the roadwork moratorium.