California sued the Environmental Protection Agency to force it to decide immediately on the state’s application to impose strict limits on emissions of heat-trapping gases from cars and light trucks. The application for a waiver from federal law to allow tougher air quality rules than those mandated by the E.P.A. has been pending for nearly two years. Automakers oppose the rules, saying they are unattainable at reasonable cost. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, said the federal government had no basis to deny the waiver. “Our health and our environment are too important to delay any longer,” he said. Fourteen other states, including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, joined California in seeking the new emissions rules, which would require automakers to reduce emissions from current levels by 30 percent or more by the 2016 model year.