EPA Administrator Refutes Notion That Agency Will Sit Idle

DALLAS, Texas (DTN) -- Speaking at an Earth Day Texas forum Friday, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt refuted the notion his agency would sit idle under President Donald Trump's watch. He also challenged the argument that President Barack Obama's administration was good for the environment.Pruitt pushed back on the comments of a few protestors who disrupted his event and attacked Pruitt's environmental record as Oklahoma attorney general, as well as his stances on issues such as climate change."When you look at the past administration, I ask you to consider something," Pruitt said. "Ask yourself, what did they achieve in terms of environmental outcomes?"Pruitt cited that roughly 42% of the country doesn't meet EPA ozone standards, affecting roughly 140 million people. The number of Superfund sites -- locations that have been designated with contaminated soil from industry -- is at 1,322 such places and grew under President Obama, Pruitt said. Then there was less investment for water infrastructure, leading to situations such as the lead contamination in Flint, Michigan."So I ask you, this past administration, where are their outcomes that are so good?" Pruitt said. "But yet here we are beginning our term and we're trying to set a new path forward of actually having objectives we can all count and measure and provide outcomes that are tangible to the American people."Pruitt spoke at Earth Day Texas, a three-day affair at the Texas State Fairgrounds that includes major speakers, entertainment and exhibits. It's the largest Earth Day event in the country, and to best describe the event, it's the chamber of commerce meets the environmental movement.That cross of business types blending with green idealism creates natural conflicts. That was reflected as three different people disrupted Pruitt's forum by shouting out comments on climate change and problems they believe EPA is ignoring in Texas. One protestor shouted that Pruitt sued EPA to prevent improvements in air quality when he was in Oklahoma. Pruitt countered, "We had 13 or so lawsuits against the EPA as I was attorney general. The Sierra Club has sued the EPA a lot more than I have over the years, largely because of non-compliance and EPA not doing their jobs historically."Pruitt characterized environmental improvements over the last four decades as a partnership between the states, industry and the federal government, though the administrator declined to acknowledge that industries nearly always resist any change reducing such pollutants. Instead, Pruitt pointed to the economic growth the country has seen while cutting back pollution over that time."I think what's happened over the last several years is we've been told we have to choose between jobs and protecting the environment," Pruitt said. "And I think that's a false choice."