ICYMI: Like the Superfund sites left sitting uncleaned, Wheeler's priorities are toxic

Yesterday, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barrasso announced the hearing for coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler’s nomination for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency would be held on January 16, likely landing amid the continued government shutdown. Wheeler is angling for a promotion while his employees at the EPA aren’t even getting paid.

Instead of paying their staff and working protecting our land, air and water, during the government shutdown, Wheeler is using the EPA to attack the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that prevent 11,000 premature deaths a year and keep deadly neurotoxins out of our air and water and push for a promotion of a coal lobbyist. Under Wheeler, the EPAs priorities favor corporate polluters over our health and safety.

Here’s a list of things the EPA isn’t doing:

• Drinking water system inspection

• Power plant inspection

• Chemical facility inspection

• Superfund cleanup

• Inspections of hazardous waste management sites and chemical facilities

• Reviews of pesticides

• Holding planned hearings for those displaced by by lead contamination

• Processing Freedom of Information Act requests (FOIA)

• Updating Utahns on the dangerous dirty haze looming over Salt Lake City

Here’s a list of things they are doing:

• Wheeler has proposed to roll back the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards that prevent 11,000 premature deaths a year and keep deadly neurotoxins out of our air and water.

• Furloughing 13,705 EPA employees (95% of all EPA staff). Only 750 employees remain at EPA and they are working without pay.

• Preparing for a hearing for coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler’s confirmation.

In response, Sierra Club Legislative Director Melinda Pierce released the following statement:

"While the government shutdown is over a needless border wall, it’s clear there’s no barrier that will stop Andrew Wheeler from giving into corporate polluter demands. Just like the Superfund sites he’s left sitting uncleaned, Wheeler's priorities are toxic.”