Adam Beitman, 202-670-5585 or adam.beitman@sierraclub.org
CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA - In Response to comments made by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) about Donald Trump’s EPA Nominee Scott Pruitt:
Bill Price, a Sierra Club organizer and public health advocate in Charleston, West Virginia, released the following statement:
“Senator Manchin needs to do his homework on Scott Pruitt. When he does, he will find that Pruitt’s approach to eliminating environmental safeguards could lead to another spill like the one which tragically occurred in West Virginia on the Elk River. Even if they agree on a few things, Pruitt’s reckless agenda is totally out of line with the needs of West Virginia families and Senator Manchin’s own stated vision for protecting our state.
“Pruitt embraces the sort of dangerous polluter-friendly politics that let polluters do whatever they wanted to our air and water without consequences. Pruitt has tried to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from doing its job again and again -- and here in West Virginia our families know exactly what the consequences of that are. Everyone who suffered through the disastrous Elk River spill knows that we can’t afford to have someone at the helm of the only national agency tasked with protecting clean water refusing to do their job. The consequences for our families and our communities are too great.
“Scott Pruitt represents a real threat to the health and welfare of West Virginians. We urge Senator Manchin to stand up for clean water, clean air and public health in West Virginia and oppose Scott Pruitt.”
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