Source: https://www.desmogblog.com/scott-pruitt
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 01:12:42+00:00

Document:
“This ethics opinion is highly unusual and problematic in many respects,” said Noah Bookbinder, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
Two new desks totaling $2,075 (granted) and requested a bulletproof security desk that would have cost $70,000 (not granted).
“The new group, Protecting America Now, warns that Pruitt’s confirmation “is not a certainty” and says that millions of dollars are needed for advertising and social media campaigns to counter anti-Pruitt campaigning from “anti-business, environmental extremists,” according to a flier obtained by POLITICO.
After becoming attorney general, Pruitt spoke at a number of ALEC events including a 2013 panel titled “Embracing American Energy Opportunities: From Wellheads to Pipelines” and in ALEC's 2014 annual meeting.
“I do not believe climate change is a hoax,” Mr Pruitt said.
Pruitt would be replaced by Andrew Wheeler, a former lobbyist for Murray Energy.
“Summarizes the research of a growing number of scientists who say variations in solar activity, not greenhouse gases, are the true driver of climate change” — See SkepticalScience myth #2.
“Challenges the IPCC’s claim that CO2-induced global warming is harmful to human health” — SkepticalScience Myth #42.
“Explains how the sun may have contributed as much as 66% of the observed twentieth century warming, and perhaps more” — SkepticalScience myth #2.
Documents released by New York Times reporter Eric Lipton outlined planning for the dinner in May, and the schedule of the dinner. According to an email sent during the dinner, an EPA staff member said that Pruitt and Pell discussed a Wall Street Journal article that had reported on the proposal of a “red team/blue team” debate on climate science.
The ‘Red Team’ idea is superb. We will be glad to help the initiative in any way we can,” Nichols said.
Critics have noted that the rule would prevent the EPA from using all available data, with examples including data from patients that needs to be kept private and data subject to industry confidentiality.
“I look at it as one of my proudest achievements. The reason this is anywhere is because of Steve Milloy,” he said.
“The proposed new policy will require EPA—when developing rules—to rely only on scientific studies where the underlying data have been made public and are available to be reproduced. Such a policy would likely violate several laws that mandate the use of ‘best available science,’ including the Toxic Substances Control Act and Safe Drinking Water Act because it would require EPA to ignore some of the ‘best’ scientific studies,” the letter read.
On the afternoon of the announcement, Marc Morano tweeted an image, posting with Steve Milloy at the EPA HQ ”celebrating the end of secret science.” In another tweet, Morano presented his book—“The Politically Incorrect Guide to Climate Change”—to a smiling Scott Pruitt.
“Although your spokesperson has repeatedly described those who raise concerns about your actions as 'disgruntled employees' whose stories should not be believed, our staffs found Mr. Chmielewski to be a credible professional who continues to express deep loyalty to the President and Vice-President. He came forward because, as he said, 'right is right, and wrong is wrong',” the letter concluded, along with a request for all documents relating to the concerns outlined in the letter.
Henry: So, is somebody being fired for that?
Pruitt: I found out about this yesterday, and I corrected the action.
“The White House and the Environmental Protection Agency have reached out to the Heartland Institute to help identify scientists who could constitute a red team, and we've been happy to oblige,” Jim Lakely, the Heartland Institute's communications director, told the Washington Examiner.
“I think that measuring with precision human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do and there’s tremendous disagreement about the degree of impact. So no, I would not agree that it’s a primary contributor to the global warming that we see […] But we don’t know that yet […] we need to continue the debate and continue the review and the analysis,” Pruitt said.
“The climate is changing and human activity contributes to that in some manner. It is the ability to measure it and the extent of that impact, and what to do about it that is subject to continued debate and dialogue,” Pruitt said.
Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon pointed to a 2014 letter that Pruitt's office had sent to the EPA about methane rules, which had been almost entirely written by Devon Energy.
Pruitt responded that the letter wasn't intended to represent only one company, but the whole industry. See footage of Pruitt's hearing below, from C-SPAN.
“We think this effort by our colleagues to police the global warming debate through the power of the subpoena is a grave mistake,” the letter reads.
Two attorneys working with Pruitt included David B. Rivkin Jr. and Andrew M. Grossman—the same two who in Mach 2016 recently established the Free Speech in Science Project to defend companies and groups over their climate science denial.
“The EPA does not possess the authority under the Clean Air Act to accomplish what it proposes in the unlawful Clean Power Plan. The EPA is ignoring the authority granted by Congress to states to regulate power plant emissions at their source. The Clean Power Plan is an unlawful attempt to expand federal bureaucrats’ authority over states’ energy economies in order to shutter coal-fired power plants and eventually other sources of fossil-fuel generated electricity. This would substantially threaten energy affordability and reliability for consumers, industry and energy producers in Oklahoma. Oklahomans care about issues of air quality and our state policy makers are best-suited and specifically granted the authority by federal law to regulate these issues. We are filing this lawsuit in order to ensure decisions on power generation and how to achieve emissions reductions are made at the local level rather than at the federal level,” Pruitt said.
“E. Scott Pruitt,” LinkedIn. Accessed January 23, 2017. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“Q. Show me selected business classifications selected industries contributions to PRUITT, E SCOTT,” Followthemoney.org. Search performed January 20, 2017. Archived .csv on file at DeSmog.
Graham Readfearn. “Donald Trump Confirms Climate Science Denier and Fossil Fuel Industry 'Stenographer' Scott Pruitt to Lead EPA,” DeSmog, December 7, 2016.
“Rule of Law Defense Fund,” Conservative Transparency. Accessed January 23 2017.
“Pruitt v EPA: A Compilation of 14 Challenges of EPA Rules Filed by the Oklahoma Attorney General,” The New York Times. Retrieved from DocumentCloud archived .pdf on file at Desmog.
E. Scott Pruitt. “Impact of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan on States” (PDF), House Committee on Science, Space & Technology, May 26, 2016. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“Scott Pruitt 2014 ALEC Annual Meeting,” YouTube video uploaded by user American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), August 5, 2014. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
“Dear Mr. Shaub:” (PDF). United States Senate, January 12, 2017. Retrieved from Politico. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“Dear Fellow Attorneys General:” (PDF), State of Alabama Office of the Attorney General, June 15, 2016. Retrieved from DocumentCloud. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Scott Pruitt. “From @WashTimes: GOP AGs warn Dems that if climate skeptics can be prosecuted for ‘fraud,’ so can alarmists -” Tweet by user Scott Pruitt, June 17, 2016. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
“STATE OF OKLAHOMA ex re. E. Scott Pruitt, in his official capacity as Attorney General of Oklahoma; OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, Petitioners, vs. U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, Respondent” (PDF), October 23 2015. Case No. 15-1365. Retrieved from E&E News. Archived .pdf one file at DeSmog.
Ashley Braun. “To Fight Clean Power Plan, Fossil Fuel Companies Paid for Private Meetings with Republican State Prosecutors,” DeSmog, September 7, 2016.
“(1) STATE OF OKLAHOMA ex rel. E. Scott Pruitt, in his official capacity as Attorney General of Oklahoma, and (2) OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, Plaintiffs, v. (1) GINA MCCARTHY, in her official capacity as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and (2) U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, Defendants. ” (PDF), UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA, July 1, 2015. Case No. 15-CV-369-CVE-FHM. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“Devon Energy Scripted Letters,” The New York Times, December 6, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“Oklahoma, Joining With Self-Interested Co-plaintiffs,” The New York Times, December 6, 2014. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“Embracing American Energy Opportunities: From Wellheads to Pipelines” (PDF), American Legislative Exchange Council. Retrieved from PR Watch. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“EME Homer City Generation, L.P., et al., Petitioners, v. Environmental Protection Agency, et al., Respondents. On Petitions for Review of a Final Order of the United States Environmental Protection Agency,” USCA Case #11-1302, December 10, 2014. Retrieved from EDFAction.og. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“RE: Comments of the Oklahoma Attorney General to the EPA on: 'Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Oklahoma; Interstate Transport of Pollution'” (PDF), Office of Attorney General, State of Oklahoma, November 16, 2011. Retrieved from Regulations.gov. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“Oklahoma Attorney General Comments to the United States Environmental Protection Agency on the Proposed Federal Implementation Plan for Interstate Transport of Pollution Affecting Visibility and Best Available Retrofit Technology Determinations” (PDF), May 23, 2011. retrieved from Regulations.gov. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“WHITE STALLION ENERGY CENTER, LLC, et al., Petitioners, V. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, et al., Respondents. On Petition for Review of Final Agency Action 77 FR 9304 (Feb. 16, 2012)” (PDF), USCA Case #12-1100. Retrieved from EDFaction.org. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“MURRAY ENERGY CORPORATION, et al., Petitioners, V. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, et al., Respondents. On Petitions for Review of Final Agency Action of the United States Environmental Protection Agency 81 Fed. Reg. 24,420 (Apr. 25, 2016)” (PDF), USCA Case #16-1127, November 18, 2016. Retrieved from Blogs.edf.org. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“MURRAY ENERGY CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, Respondent. On Petition for Review of Final Agency Action of the United States Environmental Protection Agency 80 FED. REG. 65,292 (OCT. 26, 2015)” (PDF), USCA Case #15-1385. Retrieved from azag.gov. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“WALTER COKE, INC., et al., Petitioners, V. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, et al., Respondents. On Petition for Review of Final Agency Action of the United States Environmental Protection Agency 80 Fed. Reg. 33,840 (June 12, 2015)” (PDF), USCA Case #15-1166, March 16, 2016. Retrieved from edfaction.og. Archived.pdf on file at DeSmog.
Federal Register Vol. 80, No. 113 (June 12, 2015). Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA et al. Petitioners. v. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY; and, REGINA A. MCCARTHY, Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency; Respondents” (PDF), August 2, 2016. Retrieved from blogs.edf.org. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE REGULATION, ET AL., Petitioners, v. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND LISA P. JACKSON, ADMINISTRATOR, Respondents ON PETITIONS FOR REVIEW OF 74 FED. REG. 66,496 (DEC. 15, 2009) & 75 FED. REG. 49,556 (AUG. 13, 2010) (CONSOLIDATED)” (PDF), USCA Case #09-1322, May 20, 2011. Retrieved from edfaction.org. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Respondents. On Petitions for Review of Final Agency Action of the United States Environmental Protection Agency 80 Fed. Reg. 64,662 (Oct. 23, 2015)” (PDF), USCA Case #15-1368, April 22, 2016. Retrieved from edfaction.org. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
Respondent, CITY OF NEW YORK, et al. Intervenors.” (PDF), USCA Case #14-1146, November 26, 2014. Retrieved from Edfaction.org. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“(1) STATE OF OKLAHOMA ex rel. E. Scott Pruitt, Attorney General of Oklahoma, and (2) OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, Plaintiffs, v. (1) GINA MCCARTHY, in her official capacity as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and (2) U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, Defendants.” (PDF), Case No. 15-CV-369-CVE-FHM, July 1, 2015. Retrieved from edfaction.org. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“IN RE WEST VIRGINIA, et al. Petitioner. On Petition for Extraordinary Writ to the United States Environmental Protection Agency” (PDF), United States Court of Appeals, No. 15-1277. August 13, 2016. Retrieved from edfaction.org. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA, et al., Petitioners, V. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, et al., Respondents. On Petition for Review of Final Agency Actions of the United States Environmental Protection Agency 80 Fed. Reg. 64,510 (Oct. 23, 2015) and 81 Fed. Reg. 27,442 (May 6, 2016)” (PDF), USCA Case #15-1381, October 13, 2016.
“MURRAY ENERGY CORPORATION, et al., Petitioners, v. U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, et al., Respondents. In Re: Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Defense, Final Rule: Clean Water Rule: Definition of 'Waters of the United States,' 80 Fed. Reg. 37,054, published June 29, 2015 (MCP No. 135)” (PDF), Case No. 15-3822. Retrieved from edfaction.org. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“RAGA-AG-Call-Sheet,” Nick Surgey, Center for Media and Democracy. Retrieved from DocumentCloud. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“Dear Senators,” (PDF), Competitive Enterprise Institute, January 12, 2017. Archived .pdf one file at DeSmog.
Farron Cousins. “EPA Chief Scott Pruitt Disputes Carbon Dioxide’s Role in Global Warming, Contradicting His Own Agency's Research,” DeSmog, March 9, 2017.
“White House Daily Briefing ,” C-SPAN, June 2, 2017. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
Scott Waldman. “'Red teams' gain prominence to question climate science” E&E News.
Scott Waldman and Niina Heikkinen. “Pruitt suggests warming can help humans,” E&E News, February 7, 2018.
Ben Jervey. “Pruitt, Auto Industry, and Climate Deniers Retreat Behind Closed Doors to Weaken Fuel Efficiency Targets,” DeSmog, April 4, 2018.
“EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt on Obama-Era Emissions Standards,” C-SPAN video, April 3, 2018.
“Rushed EPA ethics ruling on Pruitt condo deal 'problematic,' experts say,” ABC News, April 2, 2018.
“EPA administrator under fire for travel and security choices,” Fox News, April 3, 2018.
“Dear Administrator Pruitt,” Congress of the United States, April 12, 2018. Retrieved from DocumentCloud.
“Full interview: Scott Pruitt pushes back on controversies,” Fox News, April 4, 2018. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
“Dear Administrator Pruitt,” United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, April 24, 2018.
“Scott Pruitt Used a Military Helicopter to Visit a Coal Mine” The New Republic, May 8, 2018.
Graham Readfearn. “EPA's Scott Pruitt Dined With Fellow Climate Science Denier and Vatican Treasurer Cardinal George Pell, Documents Show,” DeSmog, May 10, 2018.
Tim Huselkamp. “Letter From the Heartland Institute to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt“ The Heartland Institute. June 7, 2018. .pdf Archived on DesmogBlog.

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