While the gauntlet-run of his nomination hearing may be over for Scott Pruitt, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head U.S. EPA is still drawing unfriendly fire from environmentalists. Critics spared no ammunition in condemning the Oklahoma attorney general, who led a national lawsuit campaign to ditch EPA’s Waters of the United States rule.
But during the confirmation hearings, Pruitt applauded the cooperative federal-state partnership of Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts and said he’d enforce the total maximum daily load pollution limits if necessary. He also promised to seek more federal funding to continue the Chesapeake Bay cleanup.
Pruitt’s stance on Clean Water Act regulations wasn’t the only issue. “Mr. Pruitt’s record is clear: He fought to dismantle the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, anti-pollution programs that target ozone and mercury in the air, the agreement to clean up the Chesapeake Bay watershed and denied the science of climate change,” charged U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. And, he promised to vote against Pruitt’s nomination.
In his confirmation testimony, however, Pruitt noted he wasn’t totally in agreement with President Trump over climate change and air pollution regulations. He didn’t believe climate change was a hoax. "Science tells us the climate is changing, and human activity in some matter impacts that change," Pruitt said. "The ability to measure and pursue the degree and the extent of that impact and what to do about it are subject to continuing debate and dialogue."
“The federal government, led by EPA, plays an essential role in the federal-state partnership to restore the Bay,” noted Chesapeake Bay Foundation President William Baker in a surprisingly neutral press release. “Chesapeake Bay Foundation looks forward to working with Mr. Pruitt, should he be confirmed, to build on the progress that has been made and achieve the goal of restoring this national treasure.”
“Keeping nitrogen and phosphorus on the land where they are helpful, instead of in the water where they’re harmful, is the core of Pennsylvania’s Clean Water Blueprint,” added CBF’s Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry Campbell. “But implementation of practices to do so is dependent upon adequate investments in pollution reduction and enforcement.”
Again, Pruitt agreed.
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