Former Big Coal lobbyist nominated to take over permanently for disgraced former Administrator Scott Pruitt

Washington (November 16, 2018) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and Chair of the Senate Climate Change Task Force, today blasted the nomination of Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to be the next permanent administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Prior to joining the EPA, Mr. Wheeler was a lobbyist on behalf of the coal industry. As Acting Administrator of the EPA, he has led the roll-back of important climate policies like the Clean Power Plan and fuel economy emissions standards.

“Andrew Wheeler is a member of the coal industry’s Hall of Fame, making him public enemy #1 for public health,” said Senator Markey. “After spending a career promoting the policies that make our air and water dirty, Andrew Wheeler will never understand that saving coal is not the job of the EPA; it is the EPA’s job to regulate coal to protect public health and the environment. By nominating coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to head the EPA, the Trump administration is continuing to put polluters ahead of the American people.”

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