trending Market Intelligence /marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/69ryfkgzegwwtafsoc-dcq2 content esgSubNav
In This List

Weary of continued scandals, Republican urges US EPA chief to clear the air

Podcast

Next in Tech | Episode 49: Carbon reduction in cloud

Blog

Using ESG Analysis to Support a Sustainable Future

Research

US utility commissioners: Who they are and how they impact regulation

Blog

Q&A: Datacenters: Energy Hogs or Sustainability Helpers?


Weary of continued scandals, Republican urges US EPA chief to clear the air

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski would like U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt to clear up a mounting number of scandals and investigations regarding his activities and then get back to the agency's mission: protecting the environment and developing policy.

"Unfortunately, I am concerned that many of the important policy efforts that you are engaged in are being overshadowed by a series of issues related to you and your management of the agency," the Alaskan senator said in her opening remarks at the May 16 hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

Murkowski, chairman of the subcommittee as well as the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was referring to questions surrounding Pruitt's first class travel; international trips; security; a housing arrangement with a Washington, D.C., lobbyist; and other issues that have dominated energy news headlines for many weeks. Pruitt is the subject of a dozen investigations being conducted by the EPA's inspector general, the White House and other ethics officials.

SNL Image

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt speaks at a May 16 hearing of a U.S. Senate Appropriations subcommittee, as protestors hold up signs calling for his termination.
Source: AP Images

"Instead of being asked about the work that you are doing on WOTUS, or the Clean Power Plan, or the Superfund program, I am being asked — really constantly asked — to comment on security, on housing and on travel," Murkowski said. "Instead of seeing articles about your efforts to return the agency to its core mission, I'm reading about your interactions with representatives of the industries that you regulate."

Murkowski acknowledged that some of the concerns may be overblown due to "the 'gotcha' age that we live in that dominates the politics of today." But Murkowski nevertheless said that "legitimate questions" need to be answered by Pruitt.

Democrats, as expected, hammered Pruitt with questions over the pending investigations and ethical issues, including Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who told Pruitt that the repeated barrage of new issues "make you a laughing stock."

Pruitt defended his actions and blamed certain EPA policies for some of the issues that have come forward. In a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives in April, Pruitt said career staff was responsible for the snowballing expense of a $43,000 private phone booth and that he had no knowledge of the situation until after the fact. He reported that he has since sent a memo to staff addressing the issue, which directed them to seek approval from senior leadership for any agency expenditures over $5,000 made "to execute my official duties."

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., asked Pruitt to respond to a May 14 Politico report that the EPA and White House sought to block publication of a U.S. Health and Human Services study on toxic chemicals in drinking water supplies. The Trump administration warned that the release of the study would be a "public relations nightmare," according to emails obtained by Politico.

Pruitt explained that his agency is working on standards for the pollutants in question in the report. But Capito kept pressing him, asking Pruitt to confirm that the report will be published. Pruitt said he "was not aware that there had been some holding back of the report."

"I think it's important to have all information in the marketplace as we evaluate this," Pruitt said, explaining that he wants to ensure a record is in place to support new standards for pollutant discharges.

Pruitt also confirmed to Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., that he has established a legal defense fund given all the ongoing investigations of his actions. Van Hollen pressed Pruitt to publicly release details of any donations made to that fund to "make sure that however that works, you're not subject to more allegations or complaints that you are violating the public trust."

Pruitt said his attorney has worked with the U.S. Government Accountability Office to create the fund to ensure it is "done properly." He also assured Van Hollen that all donations will be published as required, and committed to barring donations from lobbyists, corporations or any other entity that has business before the EPA.

President Donald Trump told reporters May 11 that he continues to have confidence in Pruitt.