July 14, 2012. Alaska sued the Obama administration to block the Environmental Protection Agency and the Coast Guard from extending the North American Emissions Control Area to the state. The regulations, set to be enforced Aug. 1, require marine cargo carriers and cruise lines to use costly and difficult-to-obtain low-sulfur fuel. The rules will greatly increase shipping costs to Alaska and harm the state's tourism industry. The state alleges the decision to include Alaska in the enforcement zone was based on flawed or incomplete data.