DALLAS - Texas has become the first state in the U.S. to challenge the federal government's finding, issued in December, that greenhouse gases are dangerous to people. 

The state of Texas, claiming that the Environmental Protection Agency's finding is based on flawed science and threatens the state's economy, is asking a federal appeals court to review the finding, the Associated Press reported. The state has also requested that the EPA reconsider its finding. 

Texas reportedly leads the nation in greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA's endangerment finding clears the path for future rules regulating emissions. 

"The EPA's misguided plan paints a big target on the backs of Texas agriculture and energy producers and the hundreds of thousands of Texans they employ," Gov. Rick Perry said. "This legal action is being taken to protect the Texas economy and the jobs that go with it, as well as defend Texas' freedom to continue our successful environmental strategies free from federal overreach."