February 22, 2017
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt: From Chief Opponent to Agency Chief
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On Feb. 17, Scott Pruitt was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He subsequently resigned his position as attorney general of Oklahoma.
As that state’s attorney general, Pruitt sued EPA 13 times in an attempt to overturn several rules, including: those impacting the amount of pollution emitted by power plants, such as the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards; the Waters of the United States rule, which provides EPA protection to millions of acres of wetlands and millions of miles of streams; and the 2015 revision to 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
According to a press release on the EPA web site, however, Pruitt “believes promoting and protecting a strong and healthy environment is one of the lifeblood priorities of the government, and EPA is a vital part of that mission.”
According to the press release, which did not include any quotes from Pruitt, he “will lead EPA in a way that our future generations inherit a better and healthier environment while advancing America’s economic interests.”
“Scott Pruitt is the leader America needs at the EPA,” commented U.S. Rep. David McKinley (D-WV). “He understands that we can protect our environment with common sense policies that don’t attack job creators and send thousands of workers, like West Virginia’s coal miners, to the unemployment line. In Oklahoma, Mr. Pruitt tirelessly fought unwarranted regulations and federal government abuse. I am confident he will bring a pragmatic and balanced approach to the EPA by returning it to its original and lawful mission.”
The press release from EPA doesn’t mention the lawsuits Pruitt has filed against the agency, some of which still are in litigation. Instead, it focuses on his work with his Democratic counterpart in Arkansas to reach an agreement to study the water quality of the Illinois River that crosses between the two states. Pruitt also was involved with a water rights settlement between the State of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City and the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations that preserved the ecosystems of scenic lakes and rivers on native lands. The agreement, which required Congressional approval, was signed into law on December 2016.
