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WASHINGTON – Andrew Wheeler, former parliamentary advisor and lobbyist who ran the Environmental Protection Agency since the resignation of his predecessor scandalized by the scandal, announced today that President Donald Trump was appointed to this position.
Wheeler's promotion of acting EPA's chief executive would keep him as a methodical and effective agent in Trump's mission of canceling environmental regulations that the administration considers a burden on business . Environmental groups quickly expressed their opposition.
A former Capitol fighter, Wheeler worked from 1995 to 2009 as a staff member of Republican Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, a staunch advocate of climate change brought about by the human and then Senate committee on the 39 environment and public works.
"The perfect choice to lead the EPA," tweeted Inhofe on Friday. "Excellent choice."
Wheeler later worked as a lobbyist, most notably for the coal giant Murray Energy Corp., who insisted a lot early on the Trump government to make its policies respectful of EPA coal and other agencies.
Grandson of a coal miner, Wheeler told staff members during his early days as head of the agency's interim this summer that he was proud of his roots in the coal country. In his acting role, Wheeler has a reputation for being a more open and friendly boss for employees than was Pruitt, and for having produced regulatory rewrites more likely to withstand court challenges.
Trump announced his plans for Wheeler almost by Friday at a ceremony at the White House for the winners of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
At the ceremony, Trump spoke to Wheeler and said, "The interim administrator, who, I'll tell you, will become permanent."
"He did a fantastic job and I would like to congratulate him, Andrew Wheeler of the EPA Where is Andrew?" Trump continued. "Congratulations, Andrew, great job, great job, thanks a lot."
The White House said Trump was signaling his intention to name Wheeler. The appointment would require confirmation from the Senate. Senators approved Wheeler as deputy administrator of the agency at a 53-45 vote last April.
Since he became acting chief of the EPA, Wheeler has tabled proposals to ease emission limits issued by power plants, cars and oil and gas facilities.
However, Wheeler also slowed another era of the Pruitt era that would have allowed trucks with outdated engines and more dirty combustion to stay on the road.
"Relative to the Pruitt administrator, Mr. Wheeler is better," said Friday Senator Tom Carper, Democrat of Delaware and one of the most assiduous critics of the Trump EPA, in a statement.
"Compared to Ruckelshaus or Whitman administrators, it's not going so well," added Carper. He was referring to William Ruckelshaus, appointed by Richard Nixon to head the EPA in 1970, and Christine Todd Whitman, who was appointed to this position in 2001 by George W. Bush.
"If the President intends to appoint Andrew Wheeler to the position of director of the EPA, Mr. Wheeler must appear before our committee so that members can view his criminal record as a lawyer. alternate administrator to see if any improvements have been made to the agency since his appointment has taken the helm. "
The EPA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Environmental groups have condemned the announcement.
"Normally, a zealous apologist for fossil fuels and the primary caretaker responsible for protecting children's health from pollution would be two separate people with differing agendas," said Ken Cook, chair of the working group on the topic. non-profit environment, in a statement. "But it is the Trump administration, where a former big coal lobbyist could become a director of the EPA."
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