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But environmentalists said the decision to give California the go-ahead for putting into place its emission requirements was long overdue and essential for developing the national program.

"This is putting the federal seal of approval on California's leadership in cleaning up global warming pollution from our cars, SUVs, pickups and minivans," said David Doniger, director of the Climate Center at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who had sharply criticized Johnson, the Bush administration EPA chief, for repeatedly postponing action and then rejecting the California waiver request, applauded the EPA decision Tuesday. She said it was "putting science and the law back into the driver's seat rather than politics and special interests."

Governors and officials from many of the states ready to adopt the California standard also welcomed the development.

Granting the waiver to California "affirms states' rights to combat global warming," said New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

In addition to New York, other states that have said they want to follow California's lead are: Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

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