TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Two environmental groups have sued the Christie administration over its withdrawal from a 10-state anti-pollution pact.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in state court by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Environment New Jersey. It seeks to return New Jersey to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide pollution 10 percent by 2018 by setting limits on emissions by power plants that burn fossil fuels.

Christie has called the initiative failed public policy that left the state at a competitive disadvantage. But the two groups say Christie violated provisions required in the repeal process.

Christie’s spokesman, Michael Drewniak, says the state won’t be rejoining the RGGI pact and there was nothing illegal about its withdrawal.

Democratic lawmakers have been pushing to rejoin it.

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