Shimkus, Walden examine how EPA’s Pruitt will refocus agency on its mission

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, chaired by U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), held a hearing on Thursday to hear Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt discuss his agenda for the agency and efforts to refocus EPA toward its core mission of protecting public health and the environment.

The hearing focused on Pruitt’s vision for the EPA’s “Back to Basics” initiative, which includes advancing the agency’s priorities over the next four years in its core mission areas of land, air, water and chemicals. The agenda also aims to restore power to states while fostering a cooperative relationship between the federal government and states to achieve environmental improvements.

“EPA will seek to improve its processes and reinvigorate the rule of law as it administers environmental regulations as Congress intended, and to refocus the agency on its core statutory obligations,” Pruitt told the panel.

“Over the years, outside the regulatory process, well-funded special interest groups have attempted to use lawsuits to force federal agencies, especially EPA, to issue regulations that advance their priorities,” Pruitt added.

Shimkus spoke to Pruitt’s comment that the EPA should operate within the statutes that Congress passes and not pick winners and losers.

Shimkus told Pruitt, “We support analyzing regulatory barriers to determine whether they create unnecessary burdens or impede job creation, and we want to work with you to make sure that EPA develops and implements regulations that protect the environment while promoting growth and creating jobs.”

Some areas Shimkus highlighted where Congress and the EPA could work together are on Superfund site cleanup, improving compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and eliminating obstacles to manufacturing and development under the Clean Power Plan.

Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) also shared his thoughts on Pruitt’s Back to Basics initiative.

“I expect that Back to Basics is not an abdication of environmental protection, but rather a rededication to mastering the most fundamental aspects of EPA’s mission, whether it’s cleaning up Superfund sites, ensuring that safe drinking water is being piped into people’s homes, or keeping air clean and safe to breathe,” Walden said.

During committee member questioning, Walden praised the agency’s prompt response to committee oversight requests, adding it was difficult to get responses to the committee’s requests under the prior administration.

“We appreciate the fact that we have received more than a thousand pages of documents on grant management issues,” Walden said. “I also want to say we appreciate the numerous bipartisan briefings you and your team have provided, especially in light of the hurricanes that took place. Know that when we send a letter we want a response.”