Over the weekend, the Washington Post’s Juliet Eilperin reported on some of the non-oil industry folks who’ve been emailing with Pruitt’s political appointees. As it just so happens, the EPA coincidentally made policy moves following these correspondences that were favorable to that industry, and a little less favorable to public health. Here are a few examples.
In March 2017, a lobbyist for Waste Management asked two of Pruitt’s top aides for a reconsideration of “climate-related rules.” One of these rules was then delayed by the EPA. In April, a representative from the golf industry (which is a drain on fresh water and source of pollution from all the fertilizers, pesticides and chemicals used to keep greens green) wrote to since-resigned Pruitt aide Samantha Dravis that after meeting with the EPA, they are “amazed at the marked difference” between this EPA and past ones. A few days later the CEO of the World Golf Association thanked Dravis for a meeting regarding the Clean Water Rule- which the EPA is now attacking.
Then there’s the message reportedly sent from the pork lobby in which a lawyer for the industry thanks the EPA appointees for their “efforts to help address the recent air emission reporting issues facing livestock agriculture.” You will be shocked to hear that the EPA subsequently changed the rules so that pork, poultry and dairy farmers don’t have to disclose pollution from their industry’s waste.
Emails aren’t the only way that polluters and Pruitt’s people are keeping in touch. Once upon a time, people sent pieces of paper with words written on them. For the first few months of his tenure, Pruitt seemed to have a habit of sending handwritten follow-up notes after meeting with representatives of the industries he’s supposed to be regulating. (How polite! Grandma would be thrilled.)
The New York Times’ Eric Lipton put together a comprehensive Twitter thread on these little notes, which read all too much like the sort of text you’d send after a nice first date. According to the records, Pruitt “enjoyed the dialogue” with BP in March 2017, and found it “extremely helpful in understanding” the issues the company, whose product is destroying the planet’s life support system, is facing.
Many of the letters include a personalized addition from Pruitt, like the letter to Chevron’s CEO, also sent in March 2017. Pruitt wrote that he “enjoyed the dialogue,” using basically the same language as the letter to BP, but also penned in that it was “wonderful to spend time together!” Awww! Cute. Similarly, Pruitt added in a note to the thankyou to Oklahoma billionaire fracking schmuck and earthquake denier Harold Hamm: “Appreciate you!” (Though it appears he resisted the urge to add a “<3” and seal it with a kiss.)
And another Oklahoma oil man got an entirely handwritten note--surely not a sign that Pruitt is buttering up potential donors for future political aspirations (or to his legal defense fund). Pruitt wrote to the CEO of Tulsa’s ONE Gas Inc that it was “wonderful to see you today at the EPA, not quite as good as our normal venue for conversation, but enjoyable nonetheless!” One can only wonder what the “normal venue for conversation” for these two might be.
Pruitt’s not the only one sending industry-EPA love letters. Head of the American Petroleum Institute Jack Gerard sent Pruitt a postcard after the EPA administrator spoke at API’s board dinner. Apparently, Pruitt was the first speaker to cause the group to break out “in spontaneous applause,” which should give you some indication of what the regulator said to the regulated industry representatives. And although we’re sure it’s just a reference to Pruitt’s decision to become a public servant and not at all an indication of whose interests he’s actually looking out for, Gerard thanked Pruitt for his “willingness to serve.”
The public can send Pruitt things as well, if you’re wondering. Politico reported on Saturday that people have been mailing Pruitt books, including two copies of “Global Warming for Dummies.”
We think it might be smarter to save your postage. We’re confident the book probably won’t change Pruitt’s position; he’s a denier, but he’s not dumb. Though he is a dummy, just in the sense that his “willingness to serve” the oil industry makes him a puppet.
Top Climate and Clean Energy Stories: