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Saturday, January 12th, 2019

Wheeler’s nomination ensures EPA will continue to put ‘profits of polluters’ over human decency

Author:     Julia Conley
Source:     AlterNet
Publication Date:     January 10, 2019
 Link: Wheeler’s nomination ensures EPA will continue to put ‘profits of polluters’ over human decency
Stephan:   The lead story on both CNN and MSNBC Friday night was something I never thought I would hear as a story let alone the lead on both of the major news networks: Was President Trump a Russian agent? Is he managed by Russia? It was based on the above the fold lead story in The New York Times: "F.B.I. Opened Inquiry Into Whether Trump Was Secretly Working on Behalf of Russia." Unbelievable. And then, of course, we have this utterly unjustified shut down of the federal government. But, under the stench of that miasma, the Trumpian maggots are also eating away at America's safety and security at the nation's operational level. Consider this about the EPA. This is part of a trend that is afflicting ever federal agency, and that directly threatens your health and wellbeing.

Carbon industry lobbyist, and now EPA head, Andrew Wheeler

In the six months since he stepped in to oversee the Environmental Protection Agency following Scott Pruitt’s resignation last summer, Andrew Wheeler has gutted fuel efficiency standards, rolled back carbon emissions rules for coal plants, and moved to allow more mercury emissions—and President Donald Trump made his approval known Wednesday as he nominated Wheeler to officially head the agency.

Wheeler has served as acting EPA administrator since July, having served as Pruitt’s second-in-command. Before his career in the Trump administration, he was a lobbyist for the fossil fuel industry and an aide for vehement climate denier Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.)—resumé items whose influence has been apparent in his actions as acting administrator and will likely to continue to sway his decision-making if he’s confirmed.

“The only thing Wheeler is going to protect at the EPA is the profits of polluters,” said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), in a statement. “I’m sure corporate board rooms will celebrate this nomination. But for anyone […]

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