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Dravis, Samantha[dravis.samantha@epa.gov] POLITICO Pro Fri 9/8/2017 9:12:48 PM Interior IG probing Zinke's senior staff reshuffle
By Esther Whieldon
09/08/2017 05:09 PM EDT
The Interior Department's internal watchdog has launched a probe into Secretary Ryan Zinke's June reassignment of a number of senior executive staff, an official told POLITICO today.
The inspector general's office is auditing Zinke's decision to reassign dozens of senior executive service employees, including Joel Clement, who was moved from a managerial position involving climate change issues to a job collecting royalties from oil and gas companies. The office has begun interviewing key agency staff and asked the secretary's office to hand over documents, IG spokeswoman Nancy DiPaolo said.
The audit follows a request in July from Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and seven of her colleagues for Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall to look into the matter.
Depending on what the audit uncovers, it could lead to a broader investigation to determine whether any laws were broken.
WHAT'S NEXT: DiPaolo said the IG hopes to wrap up its work within a few months.
To view online'. https://www.politicopro.com/agriculture/whiteboard/2017/09/interior-ig-probing-zinkes-seniorstaff-reshuffle-092682
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Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00006241 -00001
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Dravis, Samantha[dravis.samantha@epa.gov] EPA Press Office Wed 11/29/2017 6:24:42 PM EPA DEPUTY NOMINATION MOVES TO SENATE FOR FULL CONSIDERATION
EPA DEPUTY NOMINATION MOVES TO SENATE FOR FULL CONSIDERATION
WASHINGTON - (November 29, 2017) Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt applauded the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee's vote advancing Andrew Wheeler, nominee to be EPA deputy administrator. Wheeler's nomination now moves to the Senate for full consideration, along with four other EPA nominees. Administrator Scott Pruitt released the following statement following this vote:
"Andrew is an environmental policy expert with deep understanding of EPA issues. I look forward to his consideration before the Senate and his confirmation in the near future. I know Andrew will help us advance the President's Agenda, with his thoughtful and collaborative leadership at EPA."
More quotes of approval for Andrew Wheeler:
U.S. Senator James Inhofe: "I am pleased that President Trump has nominated Andrew Wheeler to serve as deputy administrator at the EPA. There is no one more qualified than Andrew to help Scott Pruitt restore EPA to its proper size and scope. When he served as my staff director of the Environment and Public Works Committee, he provided me with invaluable guidance, and in turn became a close friend. I am confident he will serve the American people and President Trump with exceptional skill in this position, and I look forward to ensuring his swift confirmation."
U.S. Congressman Bill Johnson: "Andrew Wheeler will do a fine job at EPA, helping to ensure the agency's mission of protecting the environment is maintained without the EPA becoming an unnecessary impediment to responsible energy exploration and job creation."
U.S. Congressman David B. McKinley: "With extensive experience working on Capitol Hill, in the Executive branch, and in the private sector, Andrew Wheeler is eminently qualified and a great pick to serve as Deputy Administrator of the EPA. There are few people in Washington who have the same depth of knowledge and experience on energy and environment issues. I look forward to continuing working with Andrew once he is confirmed in his new role."
Former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman: "Andrew was Republican staff director during part of the time I was on the Senate Environment Committee. We worked together on some issues and disagreed on others. He conducted himself in a fair and professional manner. I hope his nomination will receive similarly fair consideration by the Senate."
Jay Timmons, President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers: "Andrew's significant experience on Capitol Hill, and his extensive background working on environmental and natural resource policy makes him an outstanding choice to join the leadership at the EPA. Manufacturers have welcomed Administrator Pruitt's efforts to bring balance to rulemaking at the agency and focus on the EPA's core mission. We're confident Andrew will help advance that mission and ensure that our country can achieve the dual goals of responsible environmental stewardship and strong economic growth."
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
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Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00006253-00002
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Dravis, Samantha[dravis.samantha@epa.gov] EPA Press Office Wed 8/2/2017 10:58:39 PM EPA CONTINUES TO WORK WITH STATES ON 2015 OZONE DESIGNATIONS
Contact Information:
EPA CONTINUES TO WORK WITH STATES ON 2015 OZONE DESIGNATIONS
EPA continues to work with states on technical issues, disputed designations and insufficient information
(WASHINGTON) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with 2015 ozone designations, working with states to help areas with underlying technical issues, disputed designations, and/or insufficient information. This will help ensure that more Americans are living and working in areas that meet national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).
"We believe in dialogue with, and being responsive to, our state partners. Today's action reinforces our commitment to working with the states through the complex designation process," said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
The Clean Air Act gives EPA the flexibility to allow one additional year for sufficient information to support ozone designations. EPA may take future action to use its delay authority and all other authority legally available to the Agency to ensure that its designations are founded on sound policy and the best available information.
Earlier this summer, it was evident that the Agency would not meet the October 1 deadline to designate all areas, due to underlying complexities, methodological, and informational questions with regard to this new ozone NAAQS standard. For example, the question of whether or not this ozone NAAQS was set so low as to implicate natural "background" ozone levels in some parts of the country has repeatedly been raised.
In June, EPA issued a Federal Register notice announcing that it was delaying its deadline for designations by one year, from October 1,2017 to October 1,2018. Previous EPA administrations had repeatedly invoked this statutory power to delay designations for part or all of the country. Today's announcement replaces our earlier action that delayed the Agency's designation deadline on a nationwide basis and clarifies our path forward, so that the Agency can be more responsive to local needs.
"Under previous Administrations, EPA would often fail to meet designation deadlines, and then wait to be sued by activist groups and others, agreeing in a settlement to set schedules for designation," said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. "We do not believe in regulation through litigation, and we take deadlines seriously. We also take the statute and the authority it gives us seriously."
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00006258-00001
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Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00006258-00002