Document 1ge0VQNNNGezZ9kqbDBajpQQd

Message From: Sent: To: CC: Subject: Richard Manning [rmanning@getliberty.org] 6/28/2018 4:10:08 PM Bennett, Tate [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=lfa92542f7ca4d01973bl8b2fllb9141-Bennett, El] Gordon, Stephen [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=7c8fb4d82bff4eec98f5c5d00a47f554-Gordon, Ste] RE: EPA's Pruitt Wants to Limit His Own Agency's Authority Ex. 6 __ Tate: I do have a couple of questions. Can you call me a jat your convenience? Rick Manning President Americans for Limited Government From: Bennett, Tate <Bennett.Tate@epa.gov> Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 3:46 PM To: Bennett, Tate <Bennett.Tate@epa.gov> Cc: Gordon, Stephen <gordon.stephen@epa.gov> Subject: WSJ: EPA's Pruitt Wants to Limit His Own Agency's Authority In case you missed it, this WSJ piece is in response to the internal directive EPA released yesterday directing the agency to end pre-emptive veto practices with respect to 404(c) permitting. Let us know if you have any questions. -Tate Bennett, Associate Administrator for Public Engagement, U.S. EPA] g Ex 6 The Wall Street Journal EPA's Pruitt Wants to Limit His Own Agency's Authority The Wall Street Journal By Tim Puko June 26, 2018 ttgs:J7 www, w s i 1530091923 The chief of the Environmental Protection Agency is trying to limit one of the agency's most powerful tools to manage or block mining, real-estate and other developments by removing the effective veto power it has over permits to dump waste into waterways. The move, described in a memo reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, would limit the agency's power to pre-emptively or retroactively block U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 7 ED 002061 00065127-00001 approval of the waste dumping, hindering or potentially killing large development projects. It is the latest attempt at a regulatory rollback from EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who has pledged to ease environmental restrictions on businesses. He wrote in the memo to some senior staff, including regional administrators, that the powers he intends to curb have a chilling effect on economic development. Mr. Pruitt is ordering EPA's Office of Water to relinquish authority the agency has had for about 40 years under the Clean Water Act of 1972 to prohibit some approvals by the Corps even before a developer formally applies for them, or to throw them out years after they were granted--even after a project is complete and operational. The Corps has permitting authority when developers want to dump excavated land and waste into waterways, most commonly sought for mines and real-estate development, experts said. But Congress granted EPA the review authority over that permitting and power to reject permits approved by the Corps. While advocates see it as a fail-safe the agency can leverage to encourage developers into more environmentally friendly practices, Mr. Pruitt thinks the power is so broad it is vulnerable to abuse, according to a person familiar with his thinking. Mr. Pruitt's memo directs EPA staff to send a draft policy to the White House for review within six months. The new policy would need to go through a public comment period before it is finalized, according to a person familiar with the process. To read more click here. U.S. Enveonmeniai Protection Aceney 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest Washington. D C. 20004 Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 7 ED 002061 00065127-00002 Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 7 ED 002061 00065127-00003