Trump pick no stranger to EPA air office
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's pick to head the EPA's air office is an experienced environmental lawyer who opposed calls to regulate carbon as a pollutant while formerly at the EPA and would have direct responsibility over a greenhouse-gas emissions program for automobiles if confirmed by the Senate.
Environmental groups and Senate Democrats are fighting William Wehrum's nomination to be assistant administrator of Air and Radiation, saying he undermined clean-air rules throughout his career and has represented big polluters in the coal, oil, gas and utility industries. Some automakers have been clients.
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Environmentalists accuse Wehrum of discounting the health impacts of air pollution, ignoring scientific findings, distorting scientific analysis on toxic mercury emissions and substituting industry positions for the clear intent of Congress, noting that courts repeatedly blocked EPA actions for violating clean-air laws.
Wehrum "was largely responsible for the Bush EPA's record of violating the Clean Air Act more often, and allowing more illegal emissions of harmful air pollution, than any EPA administration before or since," John Walke, director of the National Resources Defense Council's climate and clean air program, said in a blog post.
More: http://www.autonews.com/article/20171009/OEM11/171009802/trump-pick-no-stranger-to-epa-air-office
