Sierra Club Statement: The Senate Must Reject Andrew Wheeler

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Donald Trump officially nominated Acting EPA Administrator and coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler to head the EPA. This nomination will need to be confirmed by the Senate. In his first 100 days as Acting EPA Administrator, Andrew Wheeler took action to harm public health and the environment on average every three days. Meanwhile, a pending FOIA lawsuit is expected to reveal more of Wheeler’s emails which could reveal further managerial and ethical lapses.

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:

“Putting a coal lobbyist like Andrew Wheeler in charge of the EPA is like making a criminal the chief of police. We know Andrew Wheeler is a dangerous threat to the health of our families and our air and water because he’s already proven that in his short time at EPA and in his long career as a lobbyist for corporate polluters. He isn’t just friendly with corporate polluters, he is one. There shouldn’t be a single day when the Administrator of the EPA schemes with corporate polluters to attack public health, but Wheeler has made it a regular habit because he is unable to give up his corporate polluter ties. As Acting EPA Administrator, Wheeler has kept his door open to coal, gas, oil and toxic chemical corporations, prioritizing their profits over the health and safety of our families. With him at the wheel, our EPA is run by the very polluters dirtying our air, water, and climate. We intend to make it clear to every Senator that Wheeler has no place at the EPA and should be swiftly rejected by any Senator who cares about protecting the health of their constituents.”