BACK-TO-BASICS
AGENDA
/ Protecting the environment
/ Engaging with partners
/ Sensible regulations for
economic growth
EPA Year in Review
2017-2018
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K. Scott Pruitt
Administrator
Friends and Colleagues -
We have been hard at work enacting President Donald Trump's agenda during my first year as EPA
Administrator. His courage and leadership have been key to our success. From his decision to exit the
Paris Accord to his executive order empowering EPA to review and rescind the Clean Power Plan, the
President is delivering on his promises and getting results for the American people.
We are following his lead. Days after being sworn in, I addressed EPA's employees and committed to
listening and working cooperatively with states and stakeholders to tackle today's environmental
challenges. In my first year, I traveled to 30 states and U.S. territories and met with 34 bipartisan
governors and over 350 stakeholder groups. We are taking important actions in collaboration with - not
opposition to - the states.
I committed to refocusing the Agency on its core mission. Today, we are focusing on cleaning up
contaminated lands, improving air quality and rebuilding America's water infrastructure. Finally, I
promised that we would restore the rule of law. We are rescinding and replacing the burdensome
Waters of the U.S. rule, and we ended the harmful and wrongful practice of "sue and settle."
These are just a few examples of my commitment to fulfilling these promises. This report details EPA's
accomplishments and what they mean for the American people and the environment. The sum of these
actions is monumental: In year one, EPA finalized 22 deregulatory actions, saving Americans more
than $1 billion in regulatory costs.
We have made tremendous progress in year one to implement the President's vision. EPA today is more
efficient, more effective and more transparent in carrying out its all-important task of protecting human
health and the environment. Much work remains to be done though. We will help repair our nation's
crumbling water infrastructure; we will continue to clean up and revitalize more Superfund sites; and we
will work with states to continue to improve air quality. Thanks to our reforms and improvements in
year one, we now have the framework and policies in place to tackle these problems head on.
I look forward to working together to accomplish even more progress in 2018.
Sincere!
E. Scott Pruitt
1200 Pennsylvania Avk. N\Y * Mail Code 1101A * Washington, DC 20KK) • (202) :>(i4-4700 * Fax: (202) ,301-1150
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Contents
Accomplishments	5
Introduction	6
Core Mission	6
AIR: Improve Air Quality	7
Clean Power Plan	7
Ozone	7
State Implementation Plans	7
Renewable Fuel Standard	8
Permitting Reform for New Source Review	8
"Once In Always In" Is Out	8
National Program for Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Economy Standards	9
Carbon Neutrality for Biomass	9
WATER: Provide for Clean and Safe Water	10
Waters of the United States (WOTUS)	10
Water Infrastructure	10
Stream Electric Effluent Limitations Guidelines Rule	11
LAND: Revitalize Land for Reuse	12
Superfund	12
CERCLA Hardrock Mining	13
Coal Ash	13
CHEMICALS: Ensure Safety of Chemicals	14
Implemented the Updated Toxic Substances Control Act	14
Chlorpyrifos	14
Dicamba	14
ENFORCEMENT	15
Cooperative Federalism and Public Participation	16
Enhanced Shared Accountability	16
Stakeholder Engagement	17
Smart Sectors	17
Grants	17
Natural Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery	18
Rule of Law	19
Agency Reform	19
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Sue and Settle	19
Advisory Committees	19
Media Highlights	20
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING	31
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Accomplishments
S	Halted Job-Killing, Burdensome, Duplicative Regulations
S	Eliminated Agency Backlogs, Improved Efficiency
S	Increased Transparency, Accountability
S	Returned to Cooperative Federalism
S	Restored the Rule of Law, Process
S	Improved Compliance and Assistance
By the Numbers:
~ IMPLEMENTING EXECUTIVE ORDERS (E.O.): EPA quickly acted on President Donald Trump's
E.O. to review the 2015 definition of "Waters of the U.S.;" President Trump's Energy
Independence E.O. to propose a repeal of the so-called "Clean Power Plan;" and President
Trump's "Regulatory Reform" E.O. 13777 by finalizing two deregulatory actions for each
regulatory action - with ZERO net costs to the U.S. economy.
S REGULATORY REFORM: 22 deregulatory actions were finalized, which could save more than Si
billion in regulatory costs; EPA also initiated work on an additional 44 deregulatory actions
and announced the reconsideration of over a dozen overreaching and burdensome
regulations.
S OUTREACH: Administrator Pruitt consulted with 95 bipartisan members of Congress. 34
bipartisan governors, visited 30 states and U.S. territories, and met with over 350 stakeholder
groups.
S AIR: EPA acted on 322 State Implementation Plans (SIPs) and turned one Federal
Implementation Plan (FIP) into a SIP each month since March 1, 2017.
S WATER: 3,000 Total Maximum Daily Loads were approved and EPA focused on the priority
water bodies selected by states. EPA also: cut the amount of time it took to review state water
quality standards in half (from 120 days to 60): committed $25 million in water infrastructure
loans; disbursed $8.9 billion in State Revolving Funds to improve our nation's water quality;
and awarded $100 million to Flint, Michigan for water infrastructure upgrades.
S LAND: Seven contaminated sites were eliminated, substantially or entirely, from the National
Priorities List (NPL) of contaminated sites; only two sites were removed the previous year. EPA
also awarded $60 million in Brownfields cleanup grants to local communities.
S CHEMICALS: 600 new chemical submissions were stuck in the Agency's backlog as of January
2017; EPA cleared the backlog and ensured that all new chemicals coming to market received
a safety determination within about 90 days.
S ENFORCEMENT: In FY17, $1.6 billion was collected in administrative and civil judicial penalties,
higher than any of the previous ten years, other than FY16, which included one $5.7 billion
action taken. EPA also celebrated an increase in the value of commitments by private parties
to clean up land to more than $1.2 billion, an increase in the total of criminal fines, restitution
and mitigation to $2.98 billion, and an increase in the value of actions to improve compliance
to nearly $20 billion.
In one year, EPA Administrator
Scott Pruitt spearheaded
22 deregulatory actions that
could save the American
people more than
$1 billion in regulatory costs.
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Introduction
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
plays a vital role in American society. It is a role
that is clearly defined by Congress, its statutes,
and - from time to time - the courts. EPA
most-effectively protects the environment and
human health when it operates within the
bounds of its authority. However, when EPA
strays outside that role, it encumbers both
environmental protections and economic
growth.
At the outset of EPA Administrator Scott
Pruitt's tenure, he set forth a "back-to-basics
agenda" centered on returning EPA to its
proper role via three objectives:
1)	Refocusing the Agency back to its core
mission
2)	Restoring power to the states through
cooperative federalism
3)	Adhering to the rule of law and
improving Agency processes
In one year, EPA has made tremendous
environmental progress in line with these
goals, and it shows that the Agency can be
both pro-environment and pro-growth.
and water. EPA was founded in 1970 in order
to consolidate the federal government's
environmental efforts under one roof and
better enforce the environmental laws passed
by Congress. In recent years, however, EPA
expanded its authority and jurisdiction into
areas outside its core mission. In the process,
central responsibilities of the Agency took a
backseat to ideological crusades, allowing
some environmental threats - like cleaning up
toxic land - to go unaddressed. Administrator
Pruitt returned the Agency to its core mission
and prioritized issues at the heart of EPA's
purpose: ensuring access to clean air and
water, cleaning up contaminated lands and
returning them to communities for reuse,
improving water infrastructure, and ensuring
chemicals entering the marketplace are
reviewed for safety. In just one year, EPA made
immense progress on these fronts, and the
American people have seen real, tangible
results.
Action for the American people
~ Cleaning up and reusing
contaminated sites
~ Investing in water
infrastructure
/ Communicating with
those who need our help
~ Cleaner air, water and
land for every American
vSrEPA
The combination of a refocused Agency,
cooperative federalism, and rule of law has
unleashed new optimism throughout the
nation. Americans can trust that environmental
hazards will be addressed quickly and
thoroughly; states and industry will be treated
as partners, not opponents; and regulations
will provide clarity, not confusion. The results
are a cleaner, safer, and stronger America for
all.
Core Mission
The first of the three pillars of Administrator
Pruitt's "back-to-basics agenda" is to refocus
the Agency on its core mission: clean air, land,
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AIR: Improve Air Quality
Clean Power Plan
The Clean Power Plan (CPP) appears to have
far exceeded the Agency's statutory authority,
while imposing massive regulatory burdens on
affordable energy for hardworking American
families. The U.S. Supreme Court issued an
unprecedented stay of the rule in 2016. After
calls for a review in President Trump's Energy
Independence Executive Order, Administrator
Pruitt proposed a repeal of the CPP on
October 10, 2017. EPA's proposed action on
CPP is estimated to save the U.S. economy up
to $33 billion in avoided compliance costs.
As part of the ongoing repeal process, the
Agency heard directly from stakeholders and
citizens most impacted by the rule, including a
listening session in Charleston, West Virginia -
the heart of coal country. Three additional
listening sessions took place in Kansas City,
Missouri; San Francisco, California; and Gillette,
Wyoming.
"Consistent with our commitment to
the rule of law, we've already set in
motion an assessment of the
previous administration's
questionable legal basis in our
proposed repeal of the Clean Power
Plan. With a clean slate, we can now
move forward to provide regulatory
certainty. It ensures adequate and
early opportunity for public
comment from all stakeholders
about next steps the Agency might
take to limit greenhouse gases from
stationary sources, in a way that
properly stays within the law, and
the bounds of the authority provided
to EPA by Congress."
- EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
In a separate but related action, EPA issued an
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to
solicit information from the public about a
potential new rule regulating greenhouse gas
emissions from power plants consistent with
the Clean Air Act and proper relations between
EPA and the states.
Ozone
EPA is committed to prioritizing air quality
improvements and partnering with states to
ensure more Americans are living and working
in areas that meet our nation's stringent air
quality standards. Under current
measurements, roughly 40 percent of the
nation fails to meet attainment standards set
under the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS). Under Administrator
Pruitt's leadership, EPA is working with states
to develop air quality plans and address
underlying technical issues. In November 2017,
consistent with Administrator Pruitt's pledge to
be more responsive to local needs, EPA found
that more than 2,600 counties - roughly 85
percent of the U.S. - met the stringent 2015
NAAQS for ground-level ozone. The Agency is
now working to finalize designations for the
remaining areas. Administrator Pruitt also
established an Ozone Cooperative Compliance
Task Force to develop additional flexibilities for
states to comply with ozone standards.
State Implementation Plans
Rather than work cooperatively with states to
implement clean air programs, President
Obama's EPA imposed more than 50 FIPs - the
equivalent of a top-down mandate - on states.
EPA recognizes that states have an enormous
role to play in environmental protection and
the Agency can improve outcomes through
collaboration, not federal dictates. Under
Pruitt's leadership, EPA has turned an average
of one FIP into a SIP every month. Since March
2017, EPA has worked with states to approve
more than 200 SIPs. Under its FY18 - FY19
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Agency Priority Goals, EPA, in close
collaboration with states, will reduce the
number of nonattainment areas by nearly 20
percent.
•	During the Obama
Administration, more than 50
FIPs were imposed on states,
including nearly 20 under the
Regional Haze program.
•	Under the Trump
Administration, with EPA
Administrator Pruitt's
leadership, EPA has turned at
least one FIP into a SIP
approximately every month.
Renewable Fuel Standard
As directed by the Clean Air Act, EPA finalized
volume requirements for the Renewable Fuel
Standard (RFS) maintaining renewable fuel
volumes at levels comparable to the 2017
standards, recognizing limits to the growth of
cellulosic and advanced biofuels, and
understanding both market realities and
consumer demand. Finalizing these volumes
consistent with the statutory timeline helped
stabilize the renewable fuels program and
provide regulatory certainty.
Permitting Reform for New Source Review
Consistent with President Trump's priorities
and under Administrator Pruitt's direction, EPA
is taking steps to clarify, revise, and streamline
preconstruction requirements under the New
Source Review (NSR) permitting program.
EPA's permitting requirements will no longer
stifle a company's ability to invest in the latest
and greatest technologies or make continued
improvements to their operations. On
December 7, 2017, EPA took an important step
to achieving this goal by issuing a guidance
memorandum. The memo makes clear that,
under current NSR regulations, the Agency is
not to "second guess" an owner or operator's
analysis, as long as it is done in a manner
consistent with NRS requirements. It further
clarified that the true environmental impacts of
the project-via post-construction actual
emissions data - will guide enforcement
actions.
"Once In Always In" Is Out
In a 1995 memo, EPA established a "once in
always in" policy that required any facility
subject to major source standards for
hazardous air pollutants to always remain
subject to those standards, even if production
processes changed or controls were
implemented that eliminated or permanently
reduced that facility's potential to emit
hazardous air pollutants. This policy served as
a disincentive for efforts to improve air quality
and was also inconsistent with the Clean Air
Act.
"This guidance is based on a plain
language reading of the statute that
is in line with EPA's guidance for
other provisions of the Clean Air Act.
It will reduce regulatory burden for
industries and the states, while
continuing to ensure stringent and
effective controls on hazardous air
pollutants."
- EPA's Office of Air and Radiation
Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum
EPA issued a guidance memorandum in
January 2018 withdrawing the "once in always
in" policy. The memo from EPA's Office of Air
and Radiation Assistant Administrator Bill
Wehrum finds that EPA had no statutory
authority under the Clean Air Act to place a
time limit on when a facility may be
determined to be an area source. Under the
Clean Air Act, facilities can be reclassified as
"area" (minor) sources once their potential to

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emit hazardous air pollutants falls below the
levels that define major sources. This action
represents another major step by EPA to
reduce burdens that deterred a core mission:
improving air quality.
National Program for Greenhouse Gas
Emissions and Fuel Economy Standards
EPA has taken multiple steps over the past year
to review the regulatory overreach of the
previous administration in the transportation
sector.
Alongside U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao, Administrator
Pruitt announced the agencies' intentions to
reestablish the original timeline for public input
for the Midterm Evaluation (MTE). This process
is a key to assessing the appropriateness of the
previous administration's standards for
greenhouse gases and fuel economy for light-
duty vehicles for Model Years 2022-2025.
Under Administrator Pruitt's leadership,
forward-looking actions will ensure that the
program is beneficial for both consumers and
the environment.
Administrator Pruitt traveled to Ypsilanti, Mich, with DOT
Secretary Chao and President Trump to discuss CAFE
standards.
EPA also reviewed, and then issued, a proposal
to undo the regulatory overreach of the Phase
II Fuel Efficiency Standards for medium- and
heavy-duty trucks as applied to the glider
industry. Gliders are a specially manufactured
type of heavy-duty highway vehicle. Proposing
to repeal this provision is a direct result of
Administrator Pruitt's commitment to regulate
consistent with the rule of law as the previous
administration's rule for gliders did not comply
with the Clean Air Act.
Carbon Neutrality for Biomass
As directed by Congress and in conjunction
with President Trump's Executive Order
"Promoting Energy Independence and
Economic Growth," a multi-agency effort has
been initiated between EPA, the U.S.
Department of Energy, and U.S. Department of
Agriculture to establish a mechanism for
federal cooperation and consistency on the
use of biomass. EPA is working to develop a
range of options in accordance with a carbon-
neutral policy for biomass from forests and
other lands and sectors as part of its ongoing
review of the Clean Air Act permitting
programs. Incorporating these sources into an
"all of the above" energy portfolio will ensure
biomass plays a key role in addressing the
energy needs of the U.S. in an economically
and environmentally beneficial way.
"For years, the federal government
rendered most U.S. forestry
producers ineligible for federal
procurement projects and created
confusion around biomass carbon
neutrality. EPA is focused on
clarifying regulations that were
encumbering the industry."
- EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
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WATER: Provide for Clean and Safe
Water
Waters of the United States (WOTUS)
On February 28, 2017, President Donald Trump
issued an Executive Order directing EPA and
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps)
to review this issue. Within a few months, the
agencies proposed a rule to rescind the 2015
"Waters of the United States" rule to provide
regulatory certainty to American farmers,
landowners, and businesses, and put an end to
one-size-fits-all regulations from Washington.
"We are taking significant action to return
power to the states and provide regulatory
certainty to our nation's farmers and
businesses. This is the first step in the two-
step process to redefine 'Waters of the
U.S.' and we are committed to moving
through this re-evaluation to quickly
provide regulatory certainty, in a way that
is thoughtful, transparent, and
collaborative with other agencies and the
public."
- EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
In the interim, EPA and the Army Corps
finalized a rule to postpone the applicability
date of the 2015 WOTUS rule until February 6,
2020. This postponement provides regulatory
certainty, will allow EPA to reevaluate the 2015
rule, and ensure the status quo is maintained
until that process is complete.
Administrator Pruitt addresses members of the Tennessee
Farm Bureau in Franklin, Tenn.
Administrator Pruitt talks with members of Nevada, Iowa
Future Farmers of America.
Water Infrastructure
Our nation's water infrastructure is in dire need
of repair. Roughly 700 water main breaks occur
across the U.S. every day - over 200,000
annually. Not surprisingly, the American
Society of Civil Engineers gave our nation's
drinking water, wastewater, and hazardous
waste infrastructure a "D" grade.
Then there's the problem of lead in our
drinking water. EPA has taken important steps
to support the State of Michigan in Flint's
recovery and improve water infrastructure
across the nation.
Flint, Michigan
In March 2017, EPA awarded a $100 million
grant to the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality to accelerate and
expand its work to replace lead service lines
and make other critical infrastructure
improvements. Later in the year, EPA
completed a periodic review of Michigan's
drinking water program and released a report
identifying key steps the state should take to
ensure they are providing safe and clean
drinking water.
In addition, EPA concurred with Michigan's
plans to forgive Flint's past drinking water
debt. Over the past year, EPA has worked in
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partnership with the State of Michigan and the
City of Flint to ensure that water quality
continues to improve. This partnership has
produced one of the most robust drinking
water data sets in the country. EPA remains
committed to working closely with the State of
Michigan, Flint and local partners to protect
public health and ensure that Flint's water
quality continues to remain safe to drink.
WIFIA
Critical to improving the nation's water
infrastructure is the Water Infrastructure
Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). The
selected projects - once finalized - will
leverage more than $1 billion in private capital
and other funding sources, including EPA's
State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans, to help
finance a total of $5.1 billion in water
infrastructure investments.
Stream Electric Effluent Limitations
Guidelines Rule
After careful reconsideration, EPA finalized a
rule postponing certain compliance dates by
two years for the effluent limitations guidelines
and standards for steam electric power plants
under the Clean Water Act. It had been
estimated to cost an average of $480 million
annually including $1.2 billion annually during
the first five years of compliance.
r
BY THE NUMBERS;
$100 Million grant to Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality
$1 Billion will be leveraged from
WIFIA loans for water infrastructure
upgrades
$5.1 Billion in total water
infrastructure investment estimated to
be spurred from EPA grants and loans
From wastewater and drinking water to storm
finance water infrastructure
King County, WA: Georgetown
Wet Weather Treatment Station
San Francisco
Public Utilities
Commission,
CA: Southeast
Water
Pollution
Control Plan^
Biosolids
Digester
water and water recycling projects, WIFIA loans wil
improvements across the country
City of Omaha, NE: Saddle Creek
Combined Sewer Overflow
Metropolitan St. Louis
Sewer District, MO: Deer
Creek Sanitary Tunnel
and Sanitary Relief
Indiana Finance Authority
IN: Indiana Finance vj
Authority FY 2017
Morro Bay
CA: Water
Reclamation
Facilitiy
Project
City of San Diego, CA
Pure Water San Diego
Maine Water
Company, ME:
/Saco River Water
Treatment Facility
Baltimore City
Department of Public
Works, MD:
Comprehensive
Infrastructure Repair,
Rehabilitation and
Replacement Program
Orange County
Water District, CA:
Groundwater
Replenishment
System Final
Expansion
s
City of Oak Ridge, TN:
Water Treatment Plant
Design and Construction
Miami Dade County, FL:
Ocean Outfall Discharge
Reduction and Resiliency
Enhancement
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LAND: Revitalize Land for Reuse
Superfund
The number of toxic sites being added to EPA's
National Priorities List (NPL) has increased
under every administration since the first list
was released under President Ronald Reagan.
By the end of 2018, EPA will be on track to
delete from the NPL, in whole or part, over 20
Superfund sites.
Ensuring the Superfund program and EPA's
land and water cleanup efforts operate
effectively and efficiently is a cornerstone of
the Agency's core mission. In elevating EPA's
focus on Superfund cleanup, Administrator
Pruitt created a Superfund Task Force -
comprised of Agency experts from the Office
of Land and Emergency Management, Office
of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance,
Office of General Counsel, and Regional
Offices - to streamline and improve the
program.
Within a few months, the Superfund Task Force
released its report providing 42 specific and
detailed recommendations under the following
overarching goals:
1.	Expediting Cleanup and Remediation
2.	Re-Invigorating Responsible Party
Cleanup and Reuse
3.	Encouraging Private Investment
4.	Promoting Redevelopment and
Community Revitalization
5.	Engaging Partners and Stakeholders
Following the recommendations of the
Superfund Task Force, Administrator Pruitt
released two dynamic lists of Superfund sites
on the NPL including an initial set of 21 sites
targeted for immediate and intense attention
and 31 sites with the greatest expected
redevelopment and commercial potential.
East Chicago, Indiana:
As one of his first acts in office, Administrator Pruitt
visited the USS Lead Superfund Site in East
Chicago, Ind., a site that was listed on the NPL in
2009. In meetings with East Chicago residents, and
federal, state, and local offices, he pledged
improved coordination and communications as
cleanup continues. The site is now on Administrator
Pruitt's list of sites targeted for immediate and
intense action.
West Lake, Missouri:
On February 1, 2018, after decades of inaction, EPA
put forth its proposed plan to clean up the West
Lake Landfill, a dumping ground for radioactive
waste from the Manhattan Project. The plan calls
for the removal of a majority of the most
radiologically impacted material.
"We've gone without a decision at the site for 10
years, and it's time that we have direction," said
Karen Nickel of the Just Moms St. Louis advocacy
group. (St. Louis' CBS Radio, 02/01/18)
San Jacinto, Texas:
The cleanup plan to address highly toxic dioxin
contamination at the San Jacinto Waste Pits
Superfund site in Harris County was approved by
Administrator Pruitt in the fall of 2017. By
permanently addressing risks posed by the
contamination, the plan provides certainty to both
people living near the site and economic interests,
including the businesses that rely on the San
Jacinto River for navigation and the lnterstate-10
transportation corridor.
"Not long after Hurricane Harvey battered Houston
last summer, Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Scott Pruitt stood on the banks of
the San Jacinto River and surveyed a decades-old
toxic waste site as divers checked whether the
storm had unearthed dangerous chemicals. Days
later, he ordered two corporations to spend
$115 million to excavate the contamination rather
than leaving it covered." (Washington Post,
01/23/18)
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The first Superfund list includes sites that will
benefit from Administrator Pruitt's direct
engagement and have identifiable actions to
protect human health and the environment.
These are sites requiring timely resolution of
specific issues to expedite cleanup and
redevelopment efforts. Ultimately, this list is
designed to spur action at sites where
opportunities exist to act quickly and
comprehensively.
Superfund redevelopment will help countless
communities reclaim and reuse thousands of
acres of formerly contaminated land. The
redevelopment list easily directs interested
developers and potential owners to some
Superfund sites with redevelopment potential.
In 2017, EPA completed deletion activities at
seven sites on the Superfund NPL in
Administrator Pruitt's first year, up from two in
2016. These sites, spanning from Minnesota
and Massachusetts to Wyoming and Nebraska,
reflect Administrator Pruitt's commitment to
accelerating progress, reducing risks at
Superfund sites, and returning sites to
productive use.
CERCLA Hardrock Mining
In January 2017, the previous administration
proposed regulations under section 108(b) of
the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) that
would have imposed additional financial
responsibility requirements on certain hardrock
mining facilities. After careful analysis of nearly
11,000 public comments, EPA announced in
December 2017 that it would not finalize the
proposed requirements. The risks associated
with these facilities' operations are already
addressed by existing federal and state
programs and requirements and industry
practice. Finalizing these requirements would
have cost American businesses and the mining
industry up to $171 million annually.
"I urged then President-elect Trump
to stop the EPA's overreach into state
regulation harming Montana
businesses. Instead of threatening
the very industries that are a
backbone of our Western economies,
we need to support American
families and American businesses to
secure our mineral and energy
independence. I am pleased the EPA
has taken action."
- U.S. Senate Western Caucus
Chairman Steve Daines (R-MT)
Coal Ash
EPA's core mission reflects the belief that states
play an integral role in environmental
protection. In keeping with this notion,
Administrator Pruitt provided Agency guidance
to states for implementing state permitting
programs to manage the safe disposal of coal
combustion residuals (CCR), also known as
"coal ash." The new state permitting authority -
included in the Water Infrastructure
Improvements for the Nation Act - allows
flexibility in individual CCR permits that better
reflect their environment and the continued
beneficial use of coal ash.
EPA released this guidance to help states
develop and submit permit programs that will
put more states on track to obtain EPA
approval of their CCR permitting program. The
guidance outlines a framework of EPA's
expected approval process and also provides
checklists to aid states as they develop their
programs.
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CHEMICALS: Ensure Safety of
Chemicals
Implemented the Updated Toxic
Substances Control Act
EPA is working diligently to properly
implement the 2016 Frank R. Lautenberg
Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which
amended the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA), and ensure that the most modern and
safe chemicals get to market quickly in order
to provide regulatory certainty for
manufacturers and confidence for American
consumers.
Under the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act -
the first major update to an environmental
statute in 20 years - EPA is responsible for
reviewing and approving the safety of new
chemicals intent on entering the U.S.
marketplace. When Administrator Pruitt was
confirmed, over 600 new chemicals were stuck
in review. Within four months of being
confirmed, EPA halved the backlog of new
chemical submissions being reviewed under
TSCA, and by August, Administrator Pruitt
effectively eliminated the backlog.
In addition, EPA exceeded expectations and
met its statutory responsibilities under TSCA on
time and the one-year anniversary of the
Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act. This included
issuing three new framework rules, providing a
guidance document for external parties, and
releasing the scoping documents for the first
10 risk evaluations, under a reformed TSCA.
Chlorpyrifos
In 2007, EPA received a petition asking the
Agency to revoke the tolerances for the
pesticide chlorpyrifos. In March 2017, EPA
denied the petition citing that: the Ninth Circuit
would not provide additional time to review
the issue; there were divergent views from
cabinet departments; and the scheduled FIFRA
pesticide review process would be transparent,
and allow more time to further evaluate the
science.
On July 18, 2017, the Ninth Circuit ruled in
EPA's favor, refusing to short-circuit the
process established by Congress to challenge a
denial of a petition to revoke a tolerance,
affording EPA additional time to conduct a
proper evaluation of the science and the
studies on chlorpyrifos and provide greater
certainty about the pesticide's safety to the
American people.
Dicamba
On October 13, 2017, EPA reached an
agreement with manufacturers on measures to
further minimize the potential for dicamba drift
to damage neighboring crops. New
requirements for the use of dicamba "over the
top" (application to growing plants) will allow
farmers to make informed choices for seed
purchases for the 2018 growing season. EPA
worked cooperatively with states, land-grant
universities, and pesticide manufacturers to
examine the underlying causes of recent crop
damage in certain regions and reach an
agreement that will provide regulatory
certainty for farmers.
TSCA MILESTONES:
S Swiftly implemented the
Lautenberg Chemical Safety
Act updates to TSCA
S Finalized 3 new framework
rules
S Released scoping documents
for first 10 risk evaluations
S Provided guidance on risk
evaluation process
S Proposed final framework rule
on TSCA fees
v	J
14

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ENFORCEMENT
Enforcement of environmental protection laws
is sustained by collaborative efforts of states,
businesses, private citizens, and federal
agencies like EPA. Within the last year,
Administrator Pruitt implemented a two-
pronged approach to enforcement: 1) ensuring
the regulated community understands and
complies with the law, and 2) vigorously
holding bad actors accountable. This was
achieved through a wide range of enforcement
tools, including: compliance assistance, civil
actions, administrative actions, informal
actions, work-sharing with states, criminal fines,
and incarceration where appropriate.
@Tt)e$eattle (Times
Amazon, EPA Reach $1.2 Million Settlement
Over Online Sales of Illegal Pesticides
"Seattle-based Amazon has agreed to pay
more than $1.2 million in administrative
penalties as part of an agreement with the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that
the agency says will protect consumers from
hazards of illegal and misbranded pesticides
sold by the online retail giant...
"The penalty was one of the largest ever of
its kind by the agency...
"[A]s a result of the settlement, Amazon has
indicated it is now 'committed to closely
monitoring and removing illegal pesticides
from its website,'[EPA Region 10
Administrator Chris] Hladick said in the
agency's news release."
BY THE NUMBERS:
From January 20, 2017 through the end of
FY17, EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice
imposed:
S More than $1.72 billion in civil
penalties, cost recovery, natural
resource damages, and other
monetary recoveries;
S More than $2.91 billion in criminal
fines, restitution, and other
assessments; and
S More than $3.13 billion in injunctive
relief and environmental mitigation
projects.
Enforcement Actions Announced Since Close
of FY17:
S ExxonMobil: $300 million air pollution
settlement with Exxon, 10/31/17
S PDC Energy: EPA, Colorado reached
$21 million-plus settlement with PDC,
10/31/17
S Indiana Harbor Coke Company:
Settled with EPA and agreed to
reduce annual emissions of pollutants
from their coke ovens by 2,075 tons,
1/25/18
S Superfunds: In one case, EPA held 40
parties responsible to finance and
perform a $51.5 million EPA-
approved cleanup, 10/13/17
S Silver Bow Creek Butte Area
Superfund site: Reached an
agreement in principle with
responsible parties after languishing
on the NPL for more than 35 years,
1/26/18
S Middletown, Ohio: EPA entered into
agreement with the city to address
the discharge of millions of gallons
untreated sewage into the Great
Miami River and Hydraulic Canal,
2/12/18
15

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Cooperative Federalism and
Public Participation
Under Administrator Pruitt's leadership, states
are once again being treated as partners in
efforts to protect the environment. In his first
year, Administrator Pruitt worked to empower
state and local partners to develop regulations
that achieve positive environmental outcomes.
Putting his words into action, Administrator
Pruitt got out of Washington and heard
directly from stakeholders in 30 states and
territories.
In His First Year In Office
Administrator Pruitt
has visited 30 states
and territories
| ADMIN ISTRATOR VISITS
v>EPA
Enhanced Shared Accountability
Governor Steve Bullock (D-MT) "The change in
the federal administration offers us as
governors the opportunity to develop new
relationships and to build stronger state and
federal relationships."
V U0 r


s
11 i TM &

Administrator Pruitt meets with the bipartisan Western
Governors Association with U.S. Department of Labor
Secretary Alexander Acosta and U.S. Department of the
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
Governor Rick Scott fR-FL): "It is great to have
a partner in Administrator Pruitt and the
Trump Administration and I am glad to see
their focus on protecting Florida's environment
for future generations."
Governor Mark Dayton (D-MN): "Gov. Mark
Dayton described a meeting Wednesday with
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt as 'productive
and cordial' and said he's hopeful the Trump
administration will eliminate some of the
federal government red tape dealt to state
agencies. 'We don't believe we need to be
micromanaged by Region 5 in Chicago,'
Dayton said during a news conference
following a meeting at the Capitol that lasted
more than an hour."
Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA): "The governor
said Pruitt indicated the new regulations would
define what areas are not under federal
jurisdiction. A court suspended the 'Waters of
the U.S.' rules written by the Obama
Administration before they took effect, but
Reynolds said farmers delayed conservation
measures and other land improvements
because of the uncertainty about what might
come next, which 'Dramatically had an impact
on our ability to move forward with
conservation practices for not only water
quality, for soil health,' she said."
Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KYr. "It's great to
have an administrator of the EPA," McConnell
said as he introduced Pruitt, "who's not afraid
to come to Kentucky."
16
In His First Year In Office
v>EPA
www.epa.gov
Administrator Pruitt
has met with
34 Governors
H GOVERNOR MEETINGS

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Administrator Pruitt hosts U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, U.S.
Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services Deputy
Secretary Eric Hargan and other members of the
President's Task Force on Environmental Risks and Safety
Risks to Children to address childhood lead exposure.
Stakeholder Engagement
Smart Sectors
In October 2017, EPA launched Smart Sectors,
a voluntary partnership program between the
Agency and regulated sectors that takes a
collaborative approach to consider more
forward-thinking ways to protect the
environment and provide regulatory certainty.
Since the program's official launch, the Smart
Sectors team met with over 80 trade
associations, companies, or stakeholder
groups. The team conducted seven
informational site visits with a variety of sectors
including ports, iron and steel, oil and gas,
chemical manufacturing, and agriculture and
has many site visits planned for 2018. The
Smart Sectors program maintains open
dialogue with these partners and their
environmental committees and is developing
reports that profile the impact of each sector
on the environment and the economy.
"The American Wood Council supports a
smarter, more sensible and cost-effective
regulatory process, such as the approach
taken by EPA's Smart Sectors Program."
- Robert Glowinski, President and CEO of
the American Wood Council
Grants
EPA awards over $4 billion grants annually to
states, tribes, and local communities. In FY17:
S $20.2 million was provided through
National Estuary Program grants to 32
communities
S $56.8 million in Brownfields grants to
172 communities for revitalizing land
•S $33 million Clean Diesel Program
grants to 72 communities
SMART SECTORS
A PROGRAM OF U.S. EPA
HEADLINES & HIGHLIGHTS
V EPA awarded $1.2 million in competitive
grants to 36 locai-based community
and tribal organizations for community-
driven solutions to local health and
environmental issues in minority, low-
income, and tribal communities.
S EPA Announces $7.2
union in
Brownfields Grants to Promote
Economic Redevelopment Across the
Pacific Southwest
S EPA Awards $2.6 Million to Cut Diesel
Emissions in New York and New Jersey
S EPA Awards $4.4 Million to Restore
Lake Champlain and Protect Against
Harmful Algal Blooms
S EPA Awards $173.5 million for California
Drinking Water and Wastewater
Projects
S EPA Awards $32 Million for Tribal
Environmental Programs in Alaska and
the Pacific Northwest
17

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Natural Disaster Preparedness,
Response and Recovery
Throughout 2017, EPA worked closely with
states and territories to prepare for and
respond to a number of natural disasters
including: Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria,
and catastrophic wildfires in the West.
As a result of the continuing impacts on Gulf
Coast-area refineries and disruption to the fuel
distribution system caused by the 2017
hurricanes, Administrator Pruitt acted quickly
to exercise EPA's emergency fuel waiver
authority to help ensure adequate supply of
fuel throughout the country by approving
emergency fuel waivers for 38 states,
Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Governors
across the country praised EPA's quick actions,
which ensured there was no disruption in the
fuel supply for power generators, evacuations
and emergency response efforts.
Administrator Pruitt traveled to Houston, Texas to review
the Agency's response efforts and meet with stakeholders
monitoring cleanup efforts at the San Jacinto Waste Pits
Superfund site (pictured above).
In the aftermath of Hurricane Maria,
Administrator Pruitt joined President Trump in
Puerto Rico to review the Agency's response
efforts. EPA focused its efforts on
environmental impacts and potential threats to
human health in the affected areas by
coordinating with local governments in Puerto
Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) to assess the
conditions of drinking water, which includes
sampling, analysis and lab support, and getting
wastewater treatment systems up and running.
Hurricane Maria:

Completed over 1,000 drinking

water assessments in USVI
~
Collected more than 225,000 items

of household hazardous waste,

goods and electronic waste in

Puerto Rico and USVI
¦v"
Assessed close to 400 vessels in

Puerto Rico and 500 in USVI with

the U.S. Coast Guard
Hurricane Irma:
S Reviewed and secured 23
Superfund sites in Puerto Rico and
USVI and 80 sites from Miami to
North Carolina
S Extended fuel waiver for 38 states
and D C.
Hurricane Harvey:

Conducted on-site assessments at

approximately 625 drinking water and

440 wastewater treatment facilities
~
Collected more than 1,000 orphan

containers, which included drums and

tanks found floated in or washed up

near waterways
/
Safely disposed of over 20 million

cubic yards of debris
STATS AT A GLANCE
Rick Scott O	v
@FLGovScott
.@EPA has approved an emergency fuel
waiver, allowing more fuel to enter FL quickly
for #Hurricanelrma prep: bit.ly/2j6apgC
9:14 PM - 6 Sep 2017
18

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Rule of Law
Agency Reform
Sue and Settle
Over the years, special interest groups skirted
the regulatory process by using lawsuits that
seek to force federal agencies - especially EPA
- to issue regulations that advance their
interests and priorities, on their specified
timeframe. During this process, known as "sue
and settle," EPA would get sued by an outside
party that asked the court to compel the
Agency to take certain steps, either through
change in a statutory duty or enforcing
timelines set by the law, and then EPA would
acquiesce through a consent decree or
settlement agreement, affecting the Agency's
obligations under the statute.
"The days of regulation through litigation
are over. We will no longer go behind
closed doors and use consent decrees
and settlement agreements to resolve
lawsuits filed against the Agency by
special interest groups where doing so
would circumvent the regulatory process
set forth by Congress. Additionally gone
are the days of routinely paying tens of
thousands of dollars in attorney's fees to
these groups with which we swiftly
settle."
- EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
"Sue and settle" cases establish Agency
obligations without participation by states
and/or the regulated community; foreclose
meaningful public participation in rulemaking;
effectively force the Agency to reach certain
regulatory outcomes; and, cost the American
taxpayer millions of dollars.
In fulfilling his promise to end the practice of
regulation through litigation that has harmed
the American public, EPA Administrator Pruitt
issued an Agency-wide directive in October
2017 designed to end "sue and settle" practices
within the Agency, providing an
unprecedented level of public participation
and transparency in EPA litigation, in addition
to consent decrees and settlement
agreements.
Advisory Committees
EPA's Federal Advisory Committees (FACs)
provide invaluable, independent scientific
advice to the Agency. However, according to
EPA calculations, in just three years, members
of three of EPA's FACs - the Science Advisory
Board (SAB), Clean Air Scientific Advisory
Committee (CASAC), and the Board of
Scientific Counselors (BOSC) - received
upwards of $77 million in direct EPA grant
funding while concurrently serving on these
committees.
Administrator Pruitt's directive ensures that
EPA's FACs provide a diverse and independent
range of perspectives. Members serving on an
EPA FAC shall not simultaneously receive
grants from the Agency. In addition,
Administrator Pruitt called for more
geographic diversity, more frequent rotation in
membership, and greater involvement by state,
local, and tribal officials. The new membership
for SAB, CASAC, and BOSC hails from over 40
states and D.C., compared to the prior total of
30 states and D.C. EPA received more than 700
applications from interested individuals
throughout the country to serve on EPA's
science boards.
19

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Media Highlights
EDITORIALS
The Wall Street Journal: Pruitt's ends sue and
settle practices also known as 'extortion by
environmental lawsuit.' "Scott Pruitt continues
to press reform at the Environmental
Protection Agency, this week issuing a directive
to curb the collusive Washington game of "sue
and settle" lawsuits. This is a victory for
democratic consent over legal extortion."
(10/18/17)
The Wall Street Journal' Pruitt's clean power
break. "The Trump Administration is giving the
economy a boost with its deregulatory agenda,
and the latest example comes Tuesday when
Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott
Pruitt will propose to repeal the Obama
Administration's Clean Power Plan. Ending this
power grab will uphold the letter of the law
and restore cooperative federalism with the
states." (10/08/17)
Washington Examiner: Praise for Pruitt's
commitment to the Agency's core mission.
"We applaud Pruitt's mission of restoring the
EPA to its proper shape and size. And we hope
he has the humility, the diligence, and the skill
to pull it off, for the sake of the Constitution,
the economy, and the environment." (09/18/17)
toe DurangomRUJ)
Denver Post: Pruitt Right to Pursue Funds for
Gold King Mine Victims. "Scott Pruitt, head of
the Environmental Protection Agency, is doing
the right thing in his efforts to make whole the
victims of the Gold King Mine spill that spewed
3 million of gallons of toxic water into the
Animas River and downstream to New
Mexico." (08/18/17)
Tulsa World: Pruitt gets out of Washington and
'talks to ordinary Americans.' "We prefer it
when the people at the top of the nation's
bureaucratic pyramid get out of the Beltway
once in a while to talk to ordinary Americans. If
Pruitt is coming home to see his friends, family,
neighbors and some of the people he
regulates, then good for him. That sounds like
the acts of a balanced man who wants to know
the thinking of the public, not just the pro-
regulation lobbyists." (07/30/17)
The Okiahoman: Pruitt meets with
stakeholders, including energy industry, "...the
fact Pruitt regularly corresponded and dealt
with energy industry officials as attorney
general of a state where energy is the No. 1
industry should not be surprising nor should it,
by itself, be considered nefarious." (06/21/17)
The Wall Street Journal: Cleaning up the
Superfund mess. "One cost of making climate
change a religion is that more immediate
environmental problems have been ignored—
not least by the Environmental Protection
Agency. New EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
plans to address that in an underreported
effort to clean up toxic waste sites under the
so-called Superfund program." (06/12/17)
The Wall Street Journal: Highway from the
endangerrnent zone. "Mr. Pruitt is a natural
target for the left, but when conservatives are
impugning one of the leaders of President
Trump's economic deregulation project as a
20

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sellout, maybe the problem is the critics, not
Mr. Pruitt." (04/18/17)
Tulsa World: Congratulations, Scott Pruitt.
"Pruitt is a serious, intelligent man who has
worked hard for the people of Oklahoma. Like
most Oklahomans, he is a genuine
conservative. He has taken seriously his
promises to voters that he would resist federal
intrusions on state authority and personal
freedom, and anyone who is surprised by that
must not have been paying attention."
(02/21/17)
ADMINISTRATOR PRUITT'S OP-EDs
USA Today Clean air, land and water: Time for
the EPA to start keeping its promises. "A few
months ago, I promised the people of Missouri
that I would make a decision and propose a
cleanup plan for the West Lake Landfill.
Recently, I made good on that commitment.
On Feb. 1, the Environmental Protection
Agency put forth its plan to clean up the West
Lake Landfill ... In less than a year, this
administration will solve a problem that
previous administrations could not fix in the
years since 1990, when the site was added to
the Superfund priorities list." (02/14/18)
w*	art M
TOMr	rH m--.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
JJ—' EPA OKs plan to rid
••up toxics from waste pits
The Washington Times: Paving the path to U.S.
energy dominance. "An energy-dominant
America will export to markets around the
world, increasing our global leadership and
influence. Becoming energy dominant means
that we are getting government out of the way
so that we can share our energy wealth with
developing nations. For years, Washington
stood in the way of our energy dominance.
That changes now." (06/26/17)
The Washington Times: EPA is putting
American workers first. "Americans who want a
healthy and clean environment expect lawful,
effective and economically sound regulation —
the Clean Power Plan failed on all three counts.
EPA can and should now focus on getting real
results in the fight for clean air, land and
water." (05/01/17)
USA Toda\ We're protecting jobs and the
environment. "There's a phrase I've used often
over the past several weeks — The future ain't
what it used to be; After my first full month
serving as administrator to the Environmental
Protection Agency, there's no question times
are changing..." (03/20/17)
NATIONAL TV
Christian Broadcast Network: Unraveling the
'Weaponization' of the EPA is Top Priority for
Scott Pruitt. "'Actions taken by the executive
branch were really actions that the legislative
branch should have been taking or addressing
and it impacted liberty,' said Pruitt. 'When you
declare a 'war on coal' from a regulatory
perspective, the question has to be asked:
where's that in the statute? Where did
Congress empower the EPA to declare a war
on coal? ... There's a role for the EPA. There's a
very important role for the agency. The
problem is in the last several years that role
has been morphed into something it's not,' he
added." (02/26/18)
Fox News' Justice with Judge Jeanine: Scott
Pruitt talks changes to the EPA under Trump.
"When you think about the last year, $8 billion
in cost savings with the deregulatory effort
21

-------
Administration-wide. In our agency alone, $1
billion of cost savings." (02/24/18)
CBS Evening News: Pruitt discussed the role of
the EPA. "We should be about administering
the statutes we're required to administer, but
we shouldn't come in and say that the way
forward in environmental protection is
prohibition vs. stewardship. We can feed the
world and we can power the world, and we
should do that." (01/18/18)
Reuters TV: Trump's EPA aims to replace
Obama-era climate, water regulations in 2018.
"[Pruitt] said the agency was also planning to
rewrite the Waters of the United States rule,
another Obama-era regulation, this one
defining which U.S. waterways are protected
under federal law. Pruitt and Trump have said
the rule marked an overreach by including
streams that are shallow, narrow, or sometimes
completely dry - and was choking off energy
development." (01/08/18)
MSNBC's Morning Joe: Pruitt said the Paris
agreement put our economy at a
disadvantage. "When you look at what was
agreed to in Paris, it put this country, our
country, at a disadvantage economically."
(06/07/17)
NBC's Meet the Press: Scott Pruitt: American
carbon reductions predate Paris Climate Deal.
"Paris is a bad deal for this country." (06/05/17)
ABC's This Week: Pruitt discussed how small
businesses across the country are celebrating
President Trump's decision to pull out of the
Paris agreement. "Well, when you look at, even
The New York Times had an article, I think,
within the last couple of days that talked about
small business celebrating, euphoria with
respect to the president's decision." (06/04/17)
Fox News Sunday: Pruitt explained how the
U.S. is the energy technology leader of the
world. '"If China and India want to reduce their
C02 footprint, they should learn from us,'
Pruitt told Fox News' Chris Wallace." (06/04/17)
CNBC: EPA takes aim at CAFE standards. "We
can be both pro-growth, pro-jobs and pro-
environment, says Scott Pruitt, EPA
administrator, discussing the agency's new
agenda and plans to roll back regulations and
tackle fuel standards." (03/09/17)
NATIONAL PRINT
GQ Magazine: The 50 Most Powerful People in
Trump's Washington. "#5 EPA Administrator
Scott Pruitt: In a Cabinet that doesn't get much
done, Pruitt has been dangerously effective."
(02/22/18)
Wall Street Journal: Pruitt said West Lake sends
a results-driven message. "This sends a
message that we're actually going to get
results,' Mr. Pruitt said. 'Frankly it's just what we
ought to be doing.'" (02/01/18)
Washington Examiner: EPA's Scott Pruitt
declares 'war on lead.' "EPA Administrator
Scott Pruitt has begun an effort to 'eradicate'
lead poisoning from drinking water, more than
three years after the crisis in Flint, Michigan,
started. Pruitt hosted a meeting Jan. 8 for state
and local officials at agency headquarters in
Washington to obtain feedback on ways to
update the 1991 Lead and Copper Rule ... It has
not been revised in more than a decade."
(01/23/18)
Wall Street Journal: Pruitt aims to accelerate
his efforts to remake the EPA. "Environmental
Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt plans to
use his second year on the job to accelerate
efforts to remake the agency, saying he wants
to speed its permitting processes and
22

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transform a culture he says is bureaucratic."
(01/17/18)
E&E News: Pruitt Meets with Moms Clean Air
Force. Dominique Browning ... co-founder and
senior director of Moms Clean Air Force, along
with other officials from her organization, met
last week with Pruitt and three members of his
staff at EPA's Washington, D.C., headquarters
... "Browning said her impression of Pruitt was
that he is 'determined' as well as 'intense,
aggressive and focused. And the other thing
on my impression is [he is] really, really smart,'
she added." (1/15/18)
The Hill. EPA staffing falls to Reagan-era levels.
"EPA's staffing is now lower than it was in
former President Reagan's final year in office.
An EPA spokeswoman said Tuesday that, as of
Jan. 3, the agency had 14,162 employees, down
from about 15,000 at the beginning of last
year. That's even lower than the 14,400
employees the agency had in fiscal year 1988,
Reagan's final year." (01/09/18)
National Review: Scott Pruitt's Reformation.
"Stewardship, Pruitt says, is making responsible
use of our national blessings, including our
natural resources: 'Feed the world and fuel the
world,' he says, over and over. But the Left —
and the EPA, which has long been dominated
by it — is not interested in stewardship. It's
interested in prohibition, in a lot of Thou shalt
and a whole heck of a lot more Thou shalt not.
'You have two different approaches, two
different worldviews, two very different sets of
assumptions,' Pruitt says." (12/31/17)
The Washington Post: How Scott Pruitt turned
the EPA into one of Trump's most powerful
tools. "... aggressiveness on issues from coal
waste to vehicle emissions has made Pruitt one
of Trump's most high-profile and
consequential Cabinet members. It also has
made him one of the most controversial ... Yet,
allies praise Pruitt for returning more power to
individual states while scaling back what they
see as the previous administration's regulatory
excesses." (12/31/17)
The Weekly Standard: The Man They Love to
Hate. "Pruitt lauded the president for his
'unflinching commitment to put America first'
and followed with what has become the theme
of his EPA tenure. The United States does
'better than anyone in the world in striking the
23

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balance between growing our economy,
growing jobs while also being a good steward
of our environment,' he said. Between 2000
and 2014, America reduced 'its carbon
emissions by 18-plus percent. And this was
accomplished not through government
mandate, but accomplished through
innovation and technology of the American
private sector.'" (12/15/17)
Bloomberg: Administrator Pruitt lands on the
list of 50 people defining global business in
2017. (11/30/17)
USA Today: Scott Pruitt on a mission to change
the climate of the EPA. "He's on a mission to
re-engineer the agency's culture by returning
power to states and away from the
Washington bureaucrats and coastal elites he
said have led it astray." (11/26/17)
TIME: Inside Scott Pruitt's Mission to Remake
the EPA. "Pruitt has pioneered a radically
different approach to environmental
regulation, weighing impact on job growth and
the concerns of business groups on a level
plane with environmental protection when the
law allows." (10/26/17)
Bloomberg: EPA's Pruitt Vows to Get Tough on
Polluters. "Scott Pruitt, the head of the
Environmental Protection Agency, vowed that
he will get tough on corporate polluters,
dismissing critics who cast him as too cozy with
industry. They don't know me,' Pruitt said,
during an interview with Bloomberg News in
his Washington office. 'I've led a grand jury.
We are going to do enforcement, to go after
bad actors and go after polluters."1 (10/25/17)
The Daily Signal: Trump's EPA Chief Charts a
New Course. "My job is to enforce the laws as
passed by whom? Congress. They give me my
authority. That's the jurisdictional
responsibilities that I have, and when litigation
is used to regulate...that's abusive. That's
wrong." (10/20/17)
TIME: Administrator Pruitt on Enforcement: "I
don't spend any time with polluters. I
prosecute polluters." (10/20/17)
Talking Points Memo: Pruitt Talks About New
'Sue and Settle' Policy. "Pruitt pledged that the
agency would no longer reimburse attorneys'
fees in cases where it decides to avoid a
lawsuit, arguing that both environmental and
business groups had abused it to enrich
themselves in the past. This is not particular to
one type of plaintiff,' he said. There should be
no attorneys' fees paid, period, no matter who
the plaintiff is.'" (10/16/17)
Fox News: EPA moves to repeal Obama's Clean
Power Plan coal regulations. "That rule really
was about picking winners and losers,' Pruitt
said. The past administration was
unapologetic, they were using every bit of
power, authority to use the EPA to pick winners
and losers on how we pick electricity in this
country. That is wrong.'" (10/09/17)
The New York Times: EPA Announces Repeal
of Major Obama-era Carbon Emissions Rule.
"Mr. Pruitt, who had signaled the move at an
event with coal miners in eastern Kentucky on
Monday, said in a news release that his
predecessors had departed from regulatory
norms in writing the Clean Power Plan, which
was finalized in 2015 and would have pushed
states to move away from coal in favor of
sources of electricity that produce fewer
carbon emissions." (10/09/17)
Politico Top 50: #9 Scott Pruitt. "Donald
Trump's pledge to unravel Barack Obama's
climate agenda may be—in the long run—the
single most significant action he takes as
president. And there's one man tasked with
24

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turning Trump's rhetoric into reality: Scott
Pruitt." (09/01/17)
POLITICO
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The Daily Caller: EPA's Scott Pruitt: What was
so great about Obama's environmental
record? '"Everyone looks at the Obama
administration as being the environmental
savior. Really? He was the environmental
savior...Well, he left us with more Superfund
sites than when he came in. He had Gold King
[the 2015 mine wastewater spill] and Flint,
Michigan [drinking water crisis]. He tried to
regulate C02 twice and flunked twice. Struck
out. So what's so great about that record? II
don't know.'" (09/13/17)
Washington Examiner: Pruitt advances Back-
to-Basics agenda. "Few Trump administration
agency chiefs have moved as decisively to
implement an agenda as Scott Pruitt, the
administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency, and he's quite clear about what he
wants to do. He calls it a 'back to the basics'
agenda, removing the government from what
he considers extraneous activity." (09/13/17)
The Washington Free Beacon: EPA workforce
approaching lowest levels since Reagan.
"We're giving long-serving, hard-working
employees the opportunity to retire early,"
Pruitt said. "We're proud to report that we're
reducing the size of government, protecting
taxpayer dollars, and staying true to our core
mission of protecting the environment and
American jobs." (09/06/17)
The Washington Examiner: Scott Pruitt
criticizes Obama as 'environmental savior,'
moves EPA away from climate change. "Few
Trump administration agency chiefs have
moved as decisively to implement an agenda
as Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, and he's
quite clear about what he wants to do. He calls
it a 'back to the basics' agenda, removing the
government from what he considers
extraneous activity — namely, the climate
change battle taken up by former President
Barack Obama, who he questioned as an
"environmental savior." (09/13/17)
Reuters: Pruitt gave a wide-ranging interview
about protecting the environment and
American jobs. "The past administration was all
about words. This administration is all about
action. Look at the actions this country has
taken. We have reduced our greenhouse gas
levels to pre-1994 levels primarily through
technology and innovation, not through
government mandate. We have nothing to be
apologetic about with the rest of the world."
(07/11/17)
Wall Street Journal: EPA to Unveil New
Chemical Testing Rules. "The Environmental
Protection Agency on Thursday will release
new rules to clarify the agency's process of
testing the chemicals used in everyday
products and other commerce, a matter of
deep importance to manufacturers, consumers
and environmental advocates." (06/22/17)
The Daily Caller: Trump Delays One of the
Most Expensive EPA Regulations Ever. "The
Trump administration announced Tuesday
evening it would delay the implementation of a
smog rule that's been called one of the
costliest clean air regulations ever." (06/07/17)
The Washington Post: EPA head Scott Pruitt
defends Paris exit. "When we joined Paris, the
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rest of the world applauded ... because it put
this country at disadvantage.. It's a bad deal
for this country. We're going to make sure as
we make deals we're going to put the interests
of America first." (06/04/17)
The Washington Post: Scott Pruitt, outspoken
and forceful, moves to the center of power
within the Trump administration. "Less than
four months ago, Scott Pruitt arrived in
Washington with few connections to President
Trump's inner circle and took the helm of an
agency where many employees were openly
hostile to him. But the administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency has emerged
as one of the most influential policy architects
in the president's Cabinet, a skilled and
sometimes brash lawyer who is methodically
taking apart a slew of regulations and
agreements affecting a range of issues, from
manufacturing operations to landfills."
(06/02/17)
Need to Know Network: Pruitt promises to put
states back in the driver's seat on regulations.
"Pruitt said during the interview that the
Obama administration used the authority of
Washington to walk over the states, and
looked at states as mere vessels of federal will."
(05/11/17)
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The Hill: EPA seeks governors' input in
rewriting Obama water rule. '"EPA is restoring
states' important role in the regulation of
water,' Pruitt said in a statement. 'Like
President Trump, I believe that we need to
work with our state governments to
understand what they think is the best way to
protect their waters, and what actions they are
already taking to do so. We want to return to a
regulatory partnership, rather than regulate by
executive fiat.'" (05/09/17)
The Washington Examiner: EPA Head Pruitt:
We hear East Chicago's concerns 'loud and
clear.' "Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Scott Pruitt visited East Chicago
on Wednesday to assure residents, state and
local leaders that Washington is meeting its
commitments to protect citizens from lead
contamination. Their concerns were heard
loud and clear, and I am committed to
ensuring that the EPA works with our federal,
state and local partners to find solutions that
protect the health and safety of East Chicago,'
Pruitt said." (04/19/17)
The Wall Street Journal' Scott Pruitt's Back-to-
Basics Agenda for the EPA. "You might call him
an EPA originalist... When Mr. Pruitt sat down
Thursday for his first interview since his
November nomination, he spent most of the
time waxing enthusiastic about all the good his
agency can accomplish once he refocuses it on
its statutorily defined mission: working
cooperatively with the states to improve water
and air quality." (02/17/17)
NATIONAL RADIO & PODCAST
The Daily Signal Podcast: EPA Administrator
Scott Pruitt explains how the Agency has
changed under President Trump's leadership.
'"The weaponization of the Environmental
Protection agency is over,' says Administrator
Scott Pruitt." (02/26/18
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The New York Times' 'The Daily: Pruitt
discusses how he's focused on protecting the
environment and human health. "The role of a
regulator is to make things regular. To take a
statue, to use its authority, to fairly enforce it."
(02/02/18)
The Hugh Hewitt Show: EPA Administrator
Scott Pruitt on 'so called' Clean Power Plan.
"For the first time ever, the EPA took its
authority and said we can dictate, really coerce
states and utility companies across the country
and tell them how to generate electricity. You
know, when you look at how we generate
electricity in this country, we obviously use
multiple energy sources." (10/11/17)
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ABC Mews "Powerhouse Politics Poclcast:" Scott
Pruitt talks about Hurricane Irma recovery
efforts. "There's many issues, from drinking
water to Superfund to debris management and
landfills, that we're dealing with in this kind of
situation." (09/08/17)
Fox News' Brian Kilmeade Show: EPA Chairman
Scott Pruitt on potential ramifications of
pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement.
"We are leading the world now, we are at pre-
1994 levels with our CO-2 footprint, not
because of Paris, not because of a government
mandate but because of innovation and
technology. For those who say we are going to
lose our seat at the table, we are the United
States, we don't lose our seat at the table."
(05/19/17)
The Hugh Hewitt Show: EPA Administrator
Scott Pruitt on new direction for science
boards at the EPA. "You know, Hugh, as you
know, the board of scientific counselors that
we have at the EPA, they serve three year
terms. And so those are reviewed every three
years. Those same individuals can apply
through the competitive process. And what's
really been emphasized by Congress as I went
through the confirmation process is
geographical representation, because you
want to ensure as you're dealing with
rulemaking - air, water, whatever rulemaking
we're doing, that the geographical uniqueness
of our country as we're patching rules is taken
in consideration." (05/11/17)
REGIONAL MEDIA
Reno KRNV-TV: Pruitt discusses his visit to
Nevada. "Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency Scott Pruitt sat down with
News 4's Bill Frankmore on Monday morning
to discuss his event with Governor Brian
Sandoval at Anaconda Mine in Lyon County
regarding future clean-up and his visit with
miners at Coeur Rochester Mine in Lovelock."
(02/05/18)
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The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Pruitt outlined his
course of action to cleanup West Lake. "In a
long-awaited decision that appears to be a
compromise, the Environmental Protection
Agency on Thursday recommended partial
excavation of the West Lake Landfill in
Bridgeton to remove radioactive waste linked
to the Manhattan Project." (02/01/18)
St. Louis KMOX-TV; Just Moms STL was happy
with Pruitt's decision regarding West Lake.
"Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel of the Just
Moms STL advocacy group say at first, the
group was worried a partial removal would
mean only 5percent removed. With a
70percent or more removal — they are
pleased. 'I can tell you that we are happy with
this decision, and what this does for us is it
gives us direction,1 Nickel says. 'We've gone
without a decision at the site for 10 years, and
it's time that we have direction."1 (02/01/18)
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Pruitt wants to work
hand in hand with states. '"What's important
for us in Washington, D.C., to do is to learn
and partner and work with folks at the state
level to achieve good outcomes together. That
just simply has not happened for a number of
years,1 said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt,
during a stop in Nevada." (12/01/17)
Pes Moines Register: Pruitt called farmers the
first "conservationists, environmentalists."
"Pruitt said the country needed to discuss what
'true environmentalism' means: 'We have been
blessed with a bounty of natural resources.
And some view that as 'We should simply not
use them" — that we should put up fences and
not use our natural resources. 'I don't buy that.
We, as a country, have an obligation to feed
the world and power the world,' he said,
getting applause. 'When you have the natural
resources like we do, we should use them to
benefit our neighbors, our country and world."1
(12/01/17)
Louisvilie WHAS-TV: Pruitt will have changes to
Obama's WOTUS. "The head of the United
States Environmental Protection Agency was in
Louisville Thursday with a promise of change
to one of the most controversial environmental
regulations for Kentucky farmers. Administrator
Scott Pruitt told the Kentucky Farm Bureau's
98th Annual Meeting that the "Waters of the
United States" regulation will be changed
forever by mid-2018." (12/01/17)
The Chicago Tribune: Pruitt orders companies
blamed for East Chicago contamination to pay
for cleanup. '"We continue to make cleaning
up East Chicago a priority, to protect the
health and well-being of the residents who live
in the impacted areas,' said EPA Administrator
Scott Pruitt in a statement. The EPA estimated
the companies will have to pay $24 million for
the remediation, according to the
announcement, and $2.25 million for the
indoor dust cleaning." (10/18/17)
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The Clarion Ledger: Pruitt addressed energy
issues in Mississippi. "U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt
visited Mississippi Thursday to discuss
proposed changes to the Waters of the United
States rule, just days after announcing the
repeal of the Clean Power Plan." (10/13/17)
Houston Chronicle: After Harvey, Pruitt vows
bold response to polluted sites around
Houston. "Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Scott Pruitt, who has visited
Texas twice since Hurricane Harvey, vowed
Thursday to have 'an answer' by next month
for a permanent solution to clean up the San
Jacinto River Waste Pits." (09/22/17)
Pes Moines WHO-TV: EPA chief, a former
baseball exec, wants 'world, world series.' "I
think baseball is one of those sports we can
actually truly have a world series, we can have
a world competition. We've seen it in other
instances and I think that's an opportunity that
we need to be pursuing." (08/14/17)
Administrator Pruitt stands for the National Anthem at
the Congressional Baseball game on june 15, 2017.
Pes Moines WHO-TV: EPA Head Agrees That
Des Moines Superfund Site Needs to Develop,
But When? "Political Director Dave Price talked
to Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Scott Pruitt about efforts to
redevelop superfund sites, like Des Moines, all
over the country." (08/08/17)
Radio Iowa: Pruitt visits Iowa to discuss
WOTUS. "Pruitt said his goal is to provide
'regulatory clarity' with a new rule, so property
owners will know where federal jurisdiction
begins and ends. 'If you want to build a pond
on your land,' Pruitt said, 'if you have natural
springs on your land and you want to want to
water your livestock and build (a retention)
pond...and you're not really sure whether if
you do that you're going to be subject to
$37,000-plus a day in fines if you don't get a
permit and you find it out five years from now,
what does that mean? You don't build the
pond or you don't build the subdivision or you
don't use your land the way you want.'"
(08/08/17)
Denver KDVR-TV: Pruitt Gold King Mine on 2-
Year Anniversary of Spill Caused by Agency.
"Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Scott Pruitt and Colorado
leaders will tour the site of the Gold King mine
spill on Friday to mark the second anniversary
of the spill that dumped 3 million gallons of
tainted wastewater into the Animas River."
(08/04/17)
Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Pruitt discusses
WOTUS in Arkansas. "EPA Administrator Scott
Pruitt visited with Arkansas Cabinet officials
and agriculture representatives Thursday about
changes they would like to see made to the
nation's definition of protected water bodies."
(07/21/17)
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Minneapolis Star Tribune: Pruitt Signals
Welcome Support for Great Lakes Restoration
Project. "Environmental Protection Agency
Secretary Scott Pruitt's visit to Minnesota last
week yielded an unexpected boon for those
who care about clean water. In an interview
with a Star Tribune reporter, Pruitt affirmed his
support for federal funding of the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative, which provides landmark
protections for Lakes Huron, Erie, Michigan,
Ontario and, most treasured by Minnesotans,
Superior." (07/21/17)
Minneapolis Star-Tribune: Pruitt is working
hard to protect the Great Lakes. "Scott Pruitt,
the nation's top environmental officer, said
Wednesday he endorses continued federal
funding for a landmark cleanup of the Great
Lakes... 'It's a continuing need, and we have to
see that it's adequately funded.'" (07/20/17)
United States rule should be retooled."
(07/18/17)
Salt Lake City. KTVX-TV: Pruitt discusses his
Back-To-Basics agenda. "EPA Administrator
Scott Pruitt made his first stop on the State
Action Tour here in Utah. This morning he sat
down with Glen Mills on Good Morning Utah
exclusively to talk about the tour." (07/18/17)
Tulsa World: EPA Chief Scott Pruitt says he's
'determined to prioritize Superfund cleanups.'
"'It's important that we address state and tribal
rights when protecting the environment and
natural resources,' Pruitt said upon
announcement of a new grant awarded the
Quapaw Tribe." (05/31/17)
Tulsa World: EPA's Pruitt: Agency is 'doing
what it's supposed to do' at Osage pollution
site. ""This is just leadership," Pruitt said. "It's
our agency doing what it's supposed to do,
coming in, finding out what the source of the
problem is, getting it corrected." (05/28/17)
Minot Daily News Governor Burgum says
Pruitt is good for North Dakota. "Burgum said
he feels Scott Pruitt, the new administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency, will have
the biggest single impact on North Dakota.
Pruitt, an attorney, is a Republican politician
from Oklahoma. He has been a leading
advocate against the EPA's activist agenda,
including suing the EPA to block its Clean
Power Plan and Waters of the United States
rule." (05/01/17)
Twin Cities WCCO-TV: Pruitt gave an in-depth
interview about the EPA's Back-To-Basics
Agenda. "EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt was in
studio for an exclusive interview while he was
in the state to meet with Gov. Mark Dayton.
He's is in Minnesota as part of his Back-To-
Basics tour and talked about rolling back
regulations." (07/19/17)
Deseret News: Pruitt visited Utah and talked
about WOTUS. "EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
visited Utah as part of multistate tour to get
input on how the agency can be more
responsive to states' needs in general and in
specific how the controversial Waters of the
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Regulating C02 storage wells
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WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Air
Senator Tom Cotton, (R-Ark.): "It's decisions
like this one that are slowly but surely
rebuilding trust between rural America and the
EPA. I'm glad to see the EPA focus on concrete
problems, like haze and other forms of
pollution, and also show respect for our state
officials' authority. It's a much-needed
corrective to the heavy-handed ways of the
previous administration, and I look forward to
our state developing its own implementation
plan, working in cooperation with—not under
the thumb of—the EPA." (01/29/18)
Becky Keoqh, director, Arkansas Department of
Environmental Quality: "Today we are pleased
to accept an EPA grant to drive further
innovative, cost-effective solutions and
continuous improvement in Arkansas's air,
which is critical for healthy communities and
economic progress. Through cooperative
efforts, Arkansas's state of air quality is one of
the best in the nation—achieving all national
air quality standards. Our progress is most
effectively achieved through actions and
support from local, state, and federal partners."
(01/29/18)
Todd Sax, head, California Air Resources Board
Enforcement Division: "California Air Resources
Board rules are designed to protect public
health by ensuring all Californians breathe
clean air. We appreciate our partners at U.S.
EPA who are helping to achieve federal air
quality standards throughout the State."
(11/29/17)
Denise Koch, director, Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation Division of Air
Quality: "We are encouraged by the Borough's
efforts to work with the community to reduce
emissions and appreciate EPA's approval of the
moderate area plan. This will enable us to
focus our efforts on developing the serious
area plan and improving air quality in the area.
The improved local ordinance, long running
changeout program to provide funding to
upgrade wood stoves and hydronic heaters to
cleaner heating appliances, and the annual
Fairbanks Clear the Air Forum and Expo are
providing the local community with the
information and tools needed to solve the air
quality problem locally." (08/29/17)
Bryan Shaw, Ph.D., chairman, Texas
Commission of Environmental Quality: "We are
pleased with the improvement in air quality,
and the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality will continue to monitor during on-
going remediation activities to make sure
compliance with federal standards continues."
(06/29/17)
Chemicals and Pesticides
Angela Loaomasini. Ph.D., senior fellow,
Competitive Enterprise Institute: "Pruitt's action
[to deny chlorpyrifos ban] sets an important
pro-science approach to regulation that the
agency should continue to follow." (08/10/17)
Cal Doolev, president and chief executive
officer, American Chemistry Council: "We
commend Administrator Pruitt for his attention
to improving the efficiency of new chemical
review under an amended TSCA. U.S.
businesses, jobs, and competitiveness depend
on a functioning new chemicals program. In
just the last month, significant progress has
been made to relieve the backlog, and we
welcome the Administrator's commitment to
have the program functioning smoothly again
by the end of July." (06/05/17)
Mike Witt, corporate director of health and
environmental research, Dow Chemical:
"Administrator Pruitt and his team at the EPA
have made great progress over a very short
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period of time to accelerate new chemical
reviews, providing American manufacturers
with new and safe materials that will help drive
innovation and manufacturing growth."
(06/05/17)
The California Cotton Ginners and Growers
Association: "EPA's denial of [the petition to
ban chlorpyrifos] is based off of the foundation
in which EPA was created on, relying on
sound-science and a transparent process. EPA
will now direct its efforts to updating and
revising its human health assessment for
chlorpyrifos under the standard procedures of
the ongoing registration review process,
scheduled for completion on October 1, 2022.
This is great news for producers and shows the
EPA's redirection towards supporting a
scientific process!" (03/30/17)
Clean Power Plan
Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman, U.S.
Senate Committee on Environment and Public
Works: "The Trump administration is listening
to the people of Wyoming. Today's
announcement that the EPA will hold a
listening session in Gillette, on the impacts of
the so-called 'Clean Power Plan,' demonstrates
the administration's commitment to hear
directly from the people who would have been
hurt most by this punishing regulation. The
Clean Power Plan would have meant lost jobs
for energy workers in Gillette and across
Wyoming. I am thankful to EPA Administrator
Scott Pruitt for his leadership on this important
issue." (12/06/17)
Paul Bailey, president and chief executive
officer, The American Coalition for Clean Coal
Electricity: "The Clean Power Plan is the poster
child for bad regulation. It is illegal, expensive,
and ineffective, and we commend
Administrator Pruitt for repealing it." (10/10/17)
Congressman Paul A. Gosar (R-Ariz.), chairman,
Congressional Western Caucus: "The so-called
'Clean Power Plan...picked winners and losers
at the expense of American job creators. I
applaud Administrator and the Trump
Administration for acting to rollback the
unconstitutional and fundamentally-flawed
Obama mandate." (10/10/17)
Jav Timmons. president and chief executive
officer, National Association of Manufacturers:
"Manufacturing workers can feel a tremendous
sense of relief today. The Trump administration
has made the right decision and ended a
policy that threatened manufacturers' access to
affordable, reliable energy and did not even
adhere to existing law." (10/10/17)
Chrissv Harbin, vice president of external
affairs, Americans for Prosperity: "This is a
welcome departure from the Washington-first,
Americans-last approach that characterized
energy and environmental policy under the
previous administration. The Clean Power Plan
(CPP) was an overreach of executive power...
It's great to see President Trump and EPA
Administrator Pruitt rein in this sweeping
mandate." (10/09/17)
Hal Quinn. president and chief executive
officer, National Mining Association:
"Administrator Pruitt will signal a decisive break
with past policies that have used regulation of
doubtful legality to circumvent the will of
Congress, usurp States' authority and raise
costs on American consumers. Repealing this
Obama-era rule would close a chapter of
regulatory overreach that set standards
without regard to the steep costs or availability
of technology necessary to meet them. The
Clean Power Plan represented an unlawful
attempt to transform the nation's power grid."
(10/06/17)
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Jim Matheson, chief executive officer, National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association:
"Affordable and reliable power is fundamental
to a successful economy. We appreciate the
Trump administration working to protect
American families and businesses from the
potentially devastating impacts of the Clean
Power Plan." (03/28/17)
Cooperative Federalism
Amanda Bowen, executive director,
Manufacturers Association of Florida: "The
Manufacturers Association of Florida
commends EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's
laser focus on ensuring the protection and
conservation of Florida's unique natural
resources and ecosystems, while also
maintaining sustainable and economically
productive communities." (02/05/18)
John L. Hoblick. president, Florida Farm
Bureau: "I applaud Administrator Pruitt's visit to
Florida and his willingness to listen to the
concerns of our growers. These concerns often
stem from an oppressive regulatory
environment, and the EPA has taken
encouraging steps to curb federal overreach,
such as rescinding the 2015 'Waters of the
Unites States' rule." (02/05/18)
Brian Kraft, owner, Alaska Sportsman's Lodge:
"This is an encouraging step for many Alaskan
businesses and families that depend on Bristol
Bay salmon. The EPA made the right decision
by listening to local people, dozens of Alaskan
business owners, and sportsmen and women
around the country." (01/26/18)
Chris Blankenship, commissioner, Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources: "The State of Alabama welcomes
EPA as the new Chairperson of the RESTORE
Council. Alabama strongly supports the
collaborative nature of the RESTORE Council
between the five Gulf States and our federal
partners which is so foundational to restoration
of the Alabama coast resulting from the
impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster,
as well as the cumulative effects of hurricanes
on the sustainability of our important coastal
resources and the people that rely on them."
(12/06/17)
Mark Hanev, president, Kentucky Farm Bureau:
"We appreciate the EPA Administrator visiting
our annual meeting to listen to farmers about
their conservation efforts and concerns related
to their operations. Administrator Pruitt, a
fellow Kentuckian, knows the hard work our
farmers put in on a daily basis to keep our
farms financially and environmentally
sustainable." (11/30/17)
Governor Phil Bryant. (R-Miss.): "Mississippi
farmers are the original conservationists. I am
grateful for Administrator Pruitt's commitment
to working with us to develop strategies that
will strengthen agriculture in Mississippi while
protecting our environment." (10/12/17)
Evaristo Cruz, chairman, National Tribal
Caucus: "The 1984 EPA Indian Policy is a critical
instrument that provides both the EPA and
Native American tribes with principles that
illustrate the federal trust relationship. On
behalf of the National Tribal Caucus we would
like to thank Administrator Pruitt for upholding
and honoring this legacy that EPA has
instituted." (10/11/17)
Disaster Relief
Julia M. Nazario Fuentes, Mayor of Loiza: "This
work in conjunction with the EPA is a great
example of how our administration is building
partnerships with federal, state and nonprofit
organizations. It is important that our citizens
follow the instructions provided by the EPA
and our Recycling Office, so that we can keep
Loiza clean. Our thanks to the EPA staff for the
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speed with which we have worked on this
project." (01/12/18)
Governor Greg Abbott. (R-Texas): "Both the
EPA and the state are working closely and
collaboratively [to monitor the Texas sites and
make sure the public health is not imperiled]."
(09/05/17)
Bob Dinneen. president and chief executive
officer, Renewable Fuels Association: "The RFA
applauds the EPA's decision to waive certain
fuel regulations for 12 states and D.C. due to
the fuel supply emergency caused by
Hurricane Harvey. We believe the waiver has
the potential to provide much-needed relief to
consumers in these areas facing gasoline
supply shortages and price spikes." (08/10/17)
Forestry
Bob Cleaves, president and chief executive
officer, Biomass Power Association: "The
biomass industry greatly appreciates
Administrator Pruitt's strong commitment to
create regulatory certainty for biomass power
producers and all contributors to the wood
supply chain." (02/14/18)
Jason Stock, executive director, New
Hampshire Timberland Owners Association:
"The New Hampshire Timberland Owners
Association is pleased Administrator Pruitt took
the time to come to New Hampshire to meet
with timberland owners, and members of the
forest products industry. As the second most
forested state in the nation, New Hampshire's
forests are an important part of our heritage,
culture, and economy. Having a regulatory
environment that promotes the growing,
management and processing of timber will
ensure this legacy continues." (02/14/18)
Fuel Economy Standards
Mitch Bainwol, president and chief executive
officer, The Auto Alliance: "With this
announcement, the Administration is fulfilling
its commitment to reinstate the midterm
evaluation of future vehicle fuel economy and
greenhouse gas standards. This review is
important to consumers nationwide who want
government to rely on the facts to drive
improvements in fuel economy. We're
delighted to see the two federal agencies align
and coordinate their programs, and we thank
Secretary Chao and Administrator Pruitt for
working closely together to harmonize a
review driven by the most current data,
consumer preferences and marketplace
realities. (8/10/17)
Peter Welch, president and chief executive
officer, National Automobile Dealers
Association: "NADA applauds the Trump
Administration for reaffirming our shared
commitment to a transparent, fair and data-
driven midterm review of fuel-economy
standards." (03/15/17)
International Cooperation
Gian Luca Galletti, Italian Minister of the
Environment: "The protection of the
environment and public health is a common
goal for Italy and the United States. There are
many themes that see our common
commitment. The presence of Administrator
Pruitt at the G7 Environment in Bologna has
been a very important element that allowed us
to start constructive dialogue on all
environmental issues as well as to open new
channels of business cooperation between our
two countries." (06/11/17)
Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan, Canada: "I
was grateful for the chance to meet with
Administrator Pruitt. Canada and the U.S. can
work together on a continental approach to
energy and the environment that focuses on
technological innovation like CCS and clean
coal initiatives without tax and regulatory
policies that cost jobs." (04/04/17)
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Regulatory Reform
Barry Hart, executive vice president and chief
executive officer, Association of Missouri
Electric Cooperatives: "We are encouraged to
see that the Trump Administration understands
the concerns of people in rural America and is
committed to bringing the change they want.
We look forward to working with Administrator
Pruitt and other administration officials as they
work to ensure Washington regulations don't
harm the people who can least afford it — our
members — and help rural communities create
jobs." (04/20/17)
Mike Jackson, chief executive officer, Auto
Nation: The Trump Administration is
"absolutely doing the right thing" when it
comes to rolling back environmental
regulations from the Obama Administration.
(02/16/17)
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), U.S. Senate
Majority Leader: "I applaud Administrator Scott
Pruitt for his decision to delay this Obama
Administration issued regulation. [The 2015
Ozone Standards were] yet another attack on
the Middle Class by the Obama Administration
and was forced through despite significant
concern from communities across the country.
Today's postponement will give states and
municipalities relief in the interim while EPA
continues to review NAAQS levels." (06/06/17)
Scientific Advisory Board Reforms
Howard Feldman, senior director for regulatory
and scientific affairs, American Petroleum
Institute: "Smart, science-based regulations are
essential to our nation meeting its energy and
environmental needs well into the future.
Administrator Pruitt's actions today advance
the administration's commitment to promoting
American energy production, transportation,
refining, and use while protecting the
environment." (10/31/17)
Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member,
U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and
Public Works: "Administrator Pruitt's directive
to increase transparency and impartiality at the
EPA is welcome news... The reforms
implemented today will restore integrity to the
science advisory boards and demonstrate a
commitment to ensuring that diverse voices
are heard from the scientific community and
increasing participation from state, local and
tribal governments." (10/31/17)
Congressman Lamar Smith (R- Tex.), chairman,
U.S. House of Representatives Science, Space,
and Technology Committee: "Today's
announcement shows that we have an
administrator with common sense,
commitment and courage. Administrator Pruitt
is restoring the EPA advisory boards to their
original purpose - to provide the administrator
objective advice on science and technology
policies." (10/31/17)
Smart Sectors
Michael D. Bellaman. president and chief
executive officer, Associated Builders and
Contractors: "The Smart Sectors Program
shows it's a new day at EPA—and that's good
news for the environment and the economy.
The nation's construction industry welcomes
the opportunity to collaborate with regulators
to ensure that environmental protection is
streamlined and cost effective. That's the way
government can help industry be more
productive, create more jobs and grow the
economy." (10/03/17)
John McKniqht, senior vice president of
government relations, National Marine
Manufacturers Association: "We are thrilled to
be part of the EPA's launch of its Smart Sectors
Program and are proud to represent an
industry that's always first in line when it comes
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to partnering with EPA to improve its
processes and benefits." (10/03/17)
Sue and Settle
Tom Donohue, president and chief executive
officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce: "The U.S.
Chamber of Commerce applauded
Administrator Pruitt's announcement that he
would end the so-called sue and settle
scheme, which allowed special interest groups
to sue EPA in an attempt to force it to take
action on their pet issues." (11/13/17)
American Farm Bureau Federation: "In fulfilling
his promise to end the practice of regulation
through litigation that has harmed the
American public, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
issued an Agency-wide directive designed to
end 'sue and settle' practice with the Agency,
providing an unprecedented of level of public
participation and transparency in EPA consent
decrees and settlement agreements." (10/16/17)
Richard Guebert, Jr., president, Illinois Farm
Bureau: "We're pleased to see the U.S. EPA
move away from the previous administration's
closed-door dealings which directed agency
policy and into a more transparent form of
revisions and rule-making...We would like to
thank EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt for
working to increase transparency in the
regulatory process and helping ensure that all
stakeholders have a voice when new
environmental rules are developed." (10/16/17)
Steve Millov, senior policy fellow, Energy and
Environmental Legal Institute: "By ending the
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 'Sue
and Settle' practice as well as improving
transparency in consent decrees and
settlement agreements, EPA Administrator
Scott Pruitt is following through on President
Trump's promise to 'drain the swamp.'"
(10/16/17)
William Yeatman, senior fellow, Competitive
Enterprise Institute: "We agree with
Administrator Pruitt's goal of ensuring that the
agency—and not special interests—establish
federal policymaking priorities." (10/16/17)
Superfund
Governor Brian Sandoval (R-Nev.): "The State
of Nevada has secured a path forward to
restore and reclaim the full Anaconda mine site
on a predictable and transparent timeline...it
was an honor to host Administrator Scott Pruitt
in Weed Heights for this special
announcement. This is a landmark day for
those who have worked to accomplish a path
toward achieving our shared goal of cleaning
up the mine site and I am grateful for the trust
of the EPA to defer management of the
process to Nevada and the incredible
partnership with Atlantic Richfield Company."
(02/09/18)
Dawn Chapman, co-founder, Just Moms St.
Louis: "We consider 70-plus percent removal of
the waste [at the West Lake Landfill] a victory
and step in the right direction. Our goals,
along with relocating the residents, have
always been getting the radioactive waste out
of the Missouri River floodplain and away from
the threat of the underground fire." (02/01/18)
Conaresswoman Ann Wagner (R-Mo.): "After
years of broken promises and inaction by
previous administrations, Administrator Pruitt
and the EPA are proposing a viable, permanent
solution for cleaning up the West Lake Landfill.
I commend them for delivering on this promise
to our community and prioritizing Missourians
who have lived in fear and uncertainty for too
long." (02/01/18)
Maritza Lopez, East Chicago resident:
"Administrator Pruitt recognized that the USS
Lead Superfund site was important enough to
serve as the first Superfund site that he visited.
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His continued attention is appreciated. This
should be the standard at all sites where
residents are exposed to hazardous
contamination." (05/31/17)
WOTUS
Michael Turner, president, Dallas Builders
Association: "The Dallas Builders Association
commends EPA Administrator Pruitt for
holding this roundtable in Dallas to get direct
feedback from home builders and developers
who are affected by burdensome regulations
that raise the cost of housing and harm small
businesses. The nation's home builders support
the administrator's efforts to enact a revised
waters of the U.S. rule that will protect the
environment without adding unnecessary
regulatory burdens that will hurt housing and
other industries in Texas that rely on a
predictable permitting process." (08/10/17)
Senator Chuck Grasslev (R-lowa), chairman,
Senate Judiciary Committee: "The federal
government works for the people of Iowa and
the rest of the United States. Administrator
Pruitt is right to come to Iowa and hear
firsthand how the WOTUS rule and other
regulations affect the farmers on the ground
who are good stewards of the land while
feeding the world." (08/08/17)
Leslie Rutledae. Attorney General, Ark.:
"Administrator Pruitt's decision last month to
completely re-evaluate the WOTUS rule,
minimizing the regulatory burden on countless
landowners, demonstrates his commitment to
building stronger relationships with state
partners." (07/20/17)
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