{"id":27700,"date":"2016-12-08T12:58:16","date_gmt":"2016-12-08T18:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/?p=27700"},"modified":"2017-02-17T11:25:08","modified_gmt":"2017-02-17T17:25:08","slug":"trumps-nomination-of-pruitt-to-lead-epa-triggers-divisive-reactions-from-industry-and-environmentalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2016\/12\/08\/trumps-nomination-of-pruitt-to-lead-epa-triggers-divisive-reactions-from-industry-and-environmentalists\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s Nomination of Pruitt to Lead EPA Triggers Divisive Reactions From Industry and Environmentalists"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Oklahoma<\/p>\n

Joe Wertz \/ StateImpact Oklahoma<\/p>\n

Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt at the state capitol in 2016.<\/p>\n<\/div>

President-elect Donald Trump has picked<\/a> Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Pruitt made a name for himself fighting against the very federal agency he is poised to lead, and the pick is seen by many as a clear signal<\/a> that Trump intends to dismantle the environmental legacy of President Obama.<\/p>

Oklahoma\u2019s attorney general is a vocal and persistent critic of the EPA and he has accused the federal agency of carrying out the Obama Administration\u2019s \u201cactivist agenda.\u201d He fought back Obama-era environmental priorities in testimony on Capitol Hill<\/a> and in federal courtrooms across the country.<\/p>

Pruitt\u2019s office did not respond to interview requests, but in a 2013 interview with StateImpact, he said the Obama administration was working lock-step with environmental groups to hobble the coal and natural gas industries.<\/p>

\u201cThe attitude with the EPA and certain environmental groups is that, \u2018Fossil Fuels are bad. Period,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cAnd they\u2019re doing everything they can to use the rule-making process to attack both.\u201d<\/p>

Pruitt has sued the EPA to block rules limiting carbon emissions from power plants. He also joined lawsuits against the agency brought by attorneys general in other states. Pruitt has railed against the Clean Power Plan, new water<\/a> regulations, ozone<\/a> and methane<\/a> limits, endangered species designations<\/a> and rules on regional haze from power plants<\/a>. Pruitt has also sued the EPA for settling lawsuits. He accused the Obama administration of using these legal settlements<\/a> to agree to environmental regulations that overstep federal authority.<\/p>

Many of those efforts failed, while others gained traction. One significant win for Pruitt came in February 2016 when the Supreme Court halted implementation<\/a> of Obama\u2019s Clean Power Plan while legal challenges mounted. The high court appears likely to rule on the case next year.<\/p>

Pruitt helped mastermind this coordinated legal effort to fight the federal agency through the courts, an alliance that\u2019s made him popular among conservatives.<\/p>\n

\n

President-elect @realDonaldTrump<\/a> makes excellent choice in announcing intent to nominate @AGScottPruitt<\/a> to lead @EPA<\/a>.bit.ly\/2h9qYG3<\/p>

\u2014 Governor Mary Fallin (@GovMaryFallin) December 8, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>

 <\/p>\n

I am pleased that PE Trump has selected @AGScottPruitt<\/a> to lead the EPA >>> full statement here: https:\/\/t.co\/YRScv4w4Sm<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Jim Inhofe (@jiminhofe) December 7, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>

 <\/p>\n

#ScottPruitt<\/a> is a proven leader who doesn’t believe we should create law out of regulations. He’ll do a great job cutting #redtape<\/a> at #EPA<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/4RBcOduKx9<\/a><\/p>

\u2014 Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) December 8, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>