Posted on 02/22/2017 5:41:29 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Scott Pruitt Signals Dramatic Shift in EPA Priorities
The Wall Street Journal, 22 February 2017 Amy Harder
In speech before employees, the new chief emphasized giving business certainty about rules
Scott Pruitt, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, spoke to employees of the agency in Washington on Tuesday PHOTO:JOSHUA ROBERTS/REUTERS
WASHINGTON—In his first speech as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt stressed a dramatic change of priorities at the agency, stating the importance of the agency’s communication and relationship with businesses but giving few details about policy changes.
Mr. Pruitt didn’t touch on the hard-fought issues that arose during his confirmation process, including his work as Oklahoma attorney general suing the EPA and comments President Donald Trump has made about nearly eliminating the agency.
The new administrator focused instead on his general aspirations for the agency, such as giving businesses certainty regarding environmental rules and striking an appropriate balance with states when it comes to regulations.
“Regulations ought to make things regular,” said Mr. Pruitt, repeating a line he used at his confirmation hearing in January. “Those that we regulate ought to know what they can expect from us.”
That is a clear difference in message and focus from the EPA under President Barack Obama, which emphasized first what the agency was trying to protect with its regulations on clean air and water.
Mr. Pruitt’s speech at agency headquarters, which went a little over 10 minutes, was aimed at striking a balance between the administrator’s mandate from Mr. Trump to roll back Mr. Obama’s environmental regulations and persistent concerns from inside and outside the agency about that very mandate. It didn’t include questions from either media or the assembled EPA staffers in Washington. EPA employs about 15,000 people across the U.S.; thousands were able to watch the speech online.
“You can’t lead unless you listen. I seek to listen and learn and lead with you to address these issues we face as a nation,” Mr. Pruitt said.
Mr. Trump’s plans for EPA have attracted particular attention, given his stated goal of making wholesale changes at the agency. Current and former officials of the agency had publicly urged the defeat of Mr. Pruitt, saying they were concerned about his close relations with the oil and gas industry in Oklahoma. The Senate narrowly confirmed him on Friday mostly along party lines.
Mr. Pruitt’s comments Tuesday didn’t ease some critics’ concerns.
Clean-up in aisle 6, heads exploding.
The EPA has usurped extra-constitutional powers for Decades.
Time to cut it back to a fraction of its size or to eliminate it altogether.
GET THE HECK OUT OF MY GUTTERS AND YARD!
Get Rid Of EPA!!!
GEt the EPA out of my Dishwasher and my washer and dryer.
Bring back effective appliance engineering!
The EPA wanted $16,000,0000 from that guy for building his pond in desolate Wyoming:
Makes sense.
how does a person pay that kind of money? do they send him to jail? what happens to his family? it is so bazaar to me.
GEt the EPA out of my Dishwasher and my washer and dryer.”
And our toilets, light bulbs, cars, soap, washing powder, bleach, bug spray, air conditioner, etc. etc.
Deodorant.
The ultimate motivation has been to exert control rather than protecting the environment. They set standards governed by rules virtually impossible to comply with or understand...that needs to stop, and it looks like that is what is going to happen.
“Mr. Pruitt’s comments Tuesday didn’t ease some critics’ concerns.”
I sure hope not!
They’ve done this same stuff here in California regarding “stock ponds.” From my perspective, the Trump Administration ought to “relieve” The Army Corps of Engineers” from ANY ROLE in environmental law enforcement. Take a look at “their work” in New Orleans if you have any doubts about their lack of technical capability. Send them all to the Middle East and let them build Butler Bridges over the Euphrates River.
they would probably just seize his land and house in lieu of paying the fine.
EPA is all about control. If they could eradicate people, they would.
That stinks! LOL
Ultimately no shift will be effective against the dictatorship of the EPA. Only outright elimination of the Agency and disemployment of ALL its employees and officers can slay the beast. If you trim it and rationalize it and rationalize it you just prune it back. Without pulling up the roots you only make it healthier for when it is reinflated. If it still exists the next president, no matter what affiliation, will oversee accretions and restorations. It is too useful for providing future income for politicians.
Start by giving a bill to EPA for cleanup of Aminus River and tack on punitive damages like they would to a private entity. Take the cost directly out of budget. Thus 8bn budget hit with a 5bn charge in costs related to cleanup = a good start. EPA apparatchiks let go can transition to the exciting field of coffee service as baristas
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