To: From: Sent: Subject:
Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] POLITICO Pro Energy Whiteboard Wed 8/2/2017 7:48:06 PM Interior No. 2 tells employees to follow the law, not 'parrot' special interests
By Esther Whieldon
08/02/2017 03:44 PM EDT
Interior Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt, a former lobbyist, believes a few bad apples within the department have "forgotten their oath" and "choose to parrot comments of special interests rather than carry out their governmental duties to move the country forward," he told employees in an introductory email sent after he was sworn in Tuesday.
"By doing so, they often avoid grounding their views in the actual facts or the law. Such conduct is arbitrary. It is lazy. We must always refrain from taking such a path," Bernhardt wrote in the email, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO today.
Before being confirmed as Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's second-in-command, Bernhardt spent years as a lobbyist for clients including Westlands Water District. Bernhardt pledged during his confirmation process to recuse himself from matters involving past clients for two years.
In the email, Bernhardt promised to respect employees at the Interior Department, where he served a previous stint under President George W. Bush. But he stressed that they were bound by laws set by Congress and obligated to exercise discretion in implementing those laws to accord with the administration's views.
The agency's authority has limits, he wrote, and instead of trying to "stretch the law like a fraying rubber band to fit a particular policy vision," the agency should ask Congress for help.
Bernhardt told the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee in May that the president's views, not the recommendations of climate scientists, would guide the department's policies where possible.
To view online'. https://www.politicopro.com/energy/whiteboard/2017/08/interior-no-2-tells-employees-to-followthe-law-not-parrot-special-interests-O
Was this Pro content helpful? Tell us what you think in one click.
Yes, very.
Somewhat
Neutral
Not really
Not at all
You received this POLITICO Pro content because your customized settings include:
Energy: Renewables. To change your alert settings, please go to
https://www.politicopro.com/settings
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00002221-00001
This email was sent tojackson.ryan@epa.gov by: POLITICO, LLC 1000 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA, 22209, USA
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00002221-00002
To: From: Sent: Subject:
Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] Bloomberg BNA Fri 7/7/2017 11:52:57 PM July 10 - Daily Environment Report
Daily Environment Report
July 10, 2017-Number 130
The Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report is brought to you by EPA Libraries. Please note, these materials may be copyrighted and should not be forwarded outside of the U.S. EPA. If you have any questions or no longer wish to receive these messages, please contact Josue Rivera-Olds at riveraolds.josue@epa.gov, 202-566-1558.
Leading the News
Chemical Safety Board Safety Board's Push for Exxon Records Carries High Stakes A years-long dispute over the Chemical Safety Board's access to ExxonMobil Corp, documents will enter a new phase at a Los Angeles federal courthouse in August, posing a test for the agency--and for corporations seeking to avoid disclosure that could prompt new regulations.
General Policy
Week Ahead: Sena
ci to Confirm New Regulatory Chief
The Trump administration's pick for chief regulatory officer is expected to win Senate
confirmation, one of several developments on environment and energy issues during the
week of July 10.
Regulatory Policy EPA Defeat on Methane Could Hinder Other Regulatory Rollbacks A defeat in court of the EPA's plan to postpone methane standards for oil and gas wells could bolster challenges to delays of emissions limits for landfills and regulations for new chemical plant security.
News
Air Pollution Ex-Audi Manager Charged in U.S. Over VW Emissions Scandal Munich prosecutors arrested a former manager at Volkswagen AG's Audi unit in a probe of the diesel-emissions scandal three days before he was charged by the U.S. Justice Department, two people familiar with the case said.
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00002226-00001
Air Pollution Los Angeles Refineries to Pay More for Excessive Flaring Los Angeles area oil refineries face higher fees for unplanned and repeat flaring events under a new local regulation.
Chemicals Regional Role in Chemicals Nixed in EPA Guidance to Staff EPA regions are no longer directed to intensify their work promoting chemical safety in guidance to agency officials overseeing the program.
Cybersecurity
Russians Are Said
pects in Nuclear Site Hackings
Hackers working for a foreign government recently breached at least a dozen U.S. power
plants, including the Wolf Creek nuclear facility in Kansas, according to current and former
U.S. officials, sparking concerns the attackers were searching for vulnerabilities in the
electrical grid.
Endangered Species German Vote Would Ease Construction Near Protected Species German lawmakers voted to amend the country's Federal Act for the Protection of Nature to make it easier for construction projects to proceed, even if they threaten protected species.
Endangered Species Sage Grouse Lawsuits on Hold Pending Interior Action Three court fights over protections for the greater sage grouse were halted as the Interior Department reconsiders its strategy for protecting the birds, which could impact energy production, mining, and livestock operations.
Energy
Cooler Efficiency Rule Issued, Others on Ic
ergy Agency
It was a welcome breath of cold air for refrigeration companies and energy efficiency
advocates when the Energy Department released a walk-in cooler and freezer energy
efficiency standard that was held at the end of the Obama administration.
Energy
Germany Exten
?aks for Natural Gas Production
A plan to extend significant tax breaks for production of both natural gas and liquefied
petroleum gas through 2023 was approved July 7 by German lawmakers, who deemed the
measure deemed necessary for the country's problematic transportation sector.
Energy Germany Moves to Equalize Consumer Electric Grpi- z ts The upper house of the German Parliament, the Bundesrat, passed a bill July 7 that clears the way for the government to harmonize long-distance electricity transmission costs across the country by 2023, a move many welcome but say comes too late at too high a cost.
Energy Millennials and Their iPhones Are Killing Traditional Utilities It won't be long, experts say, before the average Londoner will be able to program her day to start this way:
International Climate
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00002226-00002
China, EU Bolster Greener Global Shipping to Curb Emissions The trillion-dollar global shipping industry may soon be forced to curb greenhouse gas emissions under new rules backed by the European Union and China.
Oil Spills
NAFTA Agency Asked to Stui
cs From Oil Sands Operations
The commission that addresses environmental issues under the North American Free Trade
Agreement said July 7 it has been asked to review Canada's enforcement of rules that
prohibit toxic leaks from oil sands operations in Alberta.
Pesticides
Appeals Court Hands Win
isas Termite Control Industry
A federal appeals court upheld a tougher termite control regulation in Kansas than what's
required on the federal level, but the very industry that supports the rule may be seeking
changes anyway.
REACH EU Chemicals Agency Chief: Firms Not Updating Dossiers Companies that trade chemicals in the European Union are failing to meet their obligations to update the substance registration dossiers they submitted under the bloc's REACH law, according to the head of the European Chemicals Agency.
Renewable Energy Tesla to Build World's Largest Energy Storage Battery in Australia Tesla will install the world's largest energy storage battery in South Australia and will get the job done in 100 days, Premier Jay Weatherill announced July 7.
Stormwater Cities, Towns Writing New Water Permits Under EPA Direction Cities, towns and counties that are in the process of renewing their permits to minimize stormwater runoff from paved surfaces can now rely on the EPA's recently updated guidance.
Superfund EPA Plans for Fewer Superfund Cleanups, More Brownfield Jobs The Environmental Protection Agency plans to review fewer contaminated sites and make fewer cleanup actions but wants to leverage thousands of new jobs, according to a draft agency document.
Sustainability
EU Lawmak
;k to Promote More Durable Consumer Products
European lawmakers want the European Union to take steps to promote more durable and
more easily repairable consumer products, in order to reduce waste and conserve
resources.
Toxic Chemicals Eastman, American Water $150M Elk River Settlement Approved Eastman Chemical Co. and public drinking water providers gained preliminary court approval of a settlement with those impacted by a 2014 chemical spill into West Virginia's Elk River that could total $151 million (Good v. W. Va. Am. Water Co., 2017 BL 233263, S.D. W.Va., No. 14-1374, 7/6/17).
Toxic Chemicals
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00002226-00003
Ruling: Medical Monitoring Claims Barred by Superfu
r
A family's medical monitoring case over water pollution from two U.S. Navy facilities must be
dismissed because it is barred by the federal Superfund law, the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania ruled July 6 (Giovanni v. U.S. Dep't of Navy, 2017 BL 232930, E.D. Pa., No. 16-
cv-04873, 7/6/17).
Toxic Substances
Brazil Ratifies Minama
vention to Phase Out Mercury
Brazilian President Michel Temer is expected to issue a decree specifying how the country
will fully comply with the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which was ratified July 7 via a
Congressional proclamation.
Toxic Substances
ELI Criteria on Endocrine Disrupt
ticides Draw Fire
A European Union committee's approval of criteria for identifying endocrine-disrupting
substances in pesticides--which could be applied to other chemicals in future EU
legislation--is under fire from industry and lawmakers.
Toxic Substances Petroleum Industry Wins Partial Victory in EPA Challenge The American Petroleum Institute July 7 won a partial victory in its challenge to the EPA's definition of solid waste regulations as the D.C. Circuit vacated a section related to recycling of hazardous waste materials (American Petroleum Institute v. EPA, D.C. Cir., No. 09-01038, 7/7/17).
Vehicle Fuels France Aims to End Sale of Fossil Fuel-Powered Cars by 2040 France plans to end the sale of gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles by 2040 in a bid to become a carbon-neutral nation, Energy Minister Nicolas Hulot said, effectively promoting electric cars.
Vehicle Fuels Late to the Battery-Car Race, VW Says It Can Still Blunt Tesla Volkswagen AG will start deliveries of its first standalone battery-powered models in 2020, around the time that Tesla Inc. wants to hand over 1 million vehicles a year. So why does the German carmaker think it can stop the U.S. electric-auto pioneer in its tracks?
Water Pollution
Ohio Law Boosts Coni
;r Lake Erie Dredging, Landfills
Ohio's EPA gained ground in its latest move to control dredging in Lake Erie, landfill
cleanups, and community water systems management in a bill that received nearly
unanimous bipartisan support.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Manage Your Email | Contact Us
1801 South Bell Street, Arlington, VA 22202 Copyright 2017 The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc..
Daily Environment Report for EPA
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00002226-00004