Trump makes ex-coal lobbyist's position as chief of U.S. environment agency permanent
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated acting EPA chief Andrew Wheeler to run the agency permanently, the White House said, placing a former energy lobbyist at the helm of the nation's top environmental regulator. The widely anticipated nomination provides Trump another avid supporter of ...
Demanding too much certainty of science
Democrats demand answers over Scott Pruitt's mystery Morocco trip and lobbyist pal's pricey contract
EPA Chief Scott Pruitt's four-day trip to Morocco last December was puzzling from the start. Environmental Protection Agency officials didn't tell reporters about the excursion until after Pruitt had returned. And their initial explanation — that Pruitt was touting the benefits of U.S. liquefied natural ...
EPA gives giant refiner Andeavor a 'hardship' pass from biofuels regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency has exempted one of the nation's largest oil refining companies, Andeavor, from complying with U.S. biofuels regulations — a waiver historically reserved for tiny operations in danger of going belly up, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The exemption, ...
EPA chief Scott Pruitt under more pressure after conflict-of-interest condo reports: lawmakers
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt may not survive long in his job after reports that he paid below market rate to live in a condo owned by a lobbyist who deals with issues overseen by his agency, lawmakers and a former Trump ...
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday that the recent bankruptcy of a Pennsylvania oil refiner was evidence the nation's biofuel policy needs an overhaul in comments that infuriated biofuels advocates. Philadelphia Energy Solutions, the largest oil refiner on the East ...
EPA delays 2015 Obama-era clean water rule for two years amid bid to repeal and replace it
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Wednesday that the 2015 Waters of the United States rule will not be applicable for two years while it works to repeal and replace the Obama-era clean water regulation. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said the delay of the ...
U.S. EPA bans scientists from independent advisory boards, riling Democrats
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday it will bar certain scientists from serving on its independent advisory boards, a move critics say could open the way to more industry-friendly advisers on the panels. The EPA barred scientists who have won agency-awarded grants in ...
Italy sees no chance of changing U.S. stance on climate change as Pruitt exits G-7 talks early
Differences between the United States and other leading economies over climate change remain wide and are destined to stay that way, Italy's environment minister, Gian Luca Galletti, said on Sunday, as Washington's environment chief left a Group of Seven meeting a day early. G7 environment ...
Bent on paring regulations, EPA offering buyouts in bid to cut staff: internal memo
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initiated a buyout program on Thursday to reduce staff numbers as the agency seeks to refocus its agenda on reducing regulation, according to an internal memo to staff seen by Reuters. The memo was sent to all EPA employees on ...
U.S. group Sierra Club seeks probe of EPA's Pruitt over CO2 comments
U.S. environmental group the Sierra Club has asked the Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general to investigate whether the agency's head, Scott Pruitt, violated internal policies when he said he did not believe carbon dioxide was a major contributor to climate change, according to a ...
