Clean Air Council’s Statement on U.S. Senate’s Vote to Confirm Scott Pruitt for EPA

Philadelphia, PA (February 17, 2017) – Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In response, Joseph Otis Minott, Esq., Executive Director and Chief Counsel of the Clean Air Council, released the following statement:

“Scott Pruitt’s confirmation represents an enormous threat to our environment and health. Over the years, Pruitt has proven himself to be an opponent of science, public health, and the EPA itself. We fully expect Pruitt to make decisions that cater to corporate interests over the public interest. Clean Air Council and its members will hold Administrator Pruitt fully accountable on every move he makes to jeopardize the environment, public health, and progress on the extremely urgent issue of climate change.

“We are extremely disappointed in the 52 U.S. Senators who chose to ignore Scott Pruitt’s obvious conflicts of interest and cozy relationship with the fossil fuel industry to confirm him as EPA Administrator. These Senators have knowingly cast a vote to protect polluter profits over the health and interests of their own constituents.”

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The Clean Air Council is a member- supported, non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting everyone’s right to breathe clean air. The Council is headquartered in Philadelphia and works through public education, community advocacy, and government oversight to ensure enforcement of environmental laws. For more information, please visit www.cleanair.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2017
CONTACT:
Joe Minott, joe_minott@cleanair.org, 215-567-4004 x116