Statement of Lisa Pohlmann, Executive Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine
We applaud Senator Collins and Senator King for announcing their opposition to the confirmation of Scott Pruitt for EPA Administrator.
Thousands of Mainers—including leading scientists, doctors, lobstermen, and constituents from around the state—expressed opposition and alarm to a Pruitt-led EPA. We are grateful that our senators have spoken out for the best interests of Maine people. Scott Pruitt is especially bad for Maine, where our economy, health, and way of life depend on a clean environment. Pollution from beyond our borders threatens our health, yet Scott Pruitt has been a champion for the polluting industries that send that pollution to Maine.
Today, in a story on Maine Public Radio, Senator Collins announced, “Specifically, I have significant concerns that Mr. Pruitt has actively opposed and sued the EPA on numerous issues that are of great importance to the state of Maine, including mercury controls for coal-fired power plants and efforts to reduce cross-state air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions….His actions leave me with considerable doubts about whether his vision for the EPA is consistent with the agency’s critical mission to protect human health and the environment.”
Previously, Senator King said, “We need serious action on climate change, and we need a champion of the environment leading the EPA. That means a ‘no’ vote for Scott Pruitt….I just can’t, in good conscience, as somebody who’s taken seriously environmental protection all my life, approve the appointment of someone who is so manifestly opposed to the mission of the agency.”
We urge Senators Collins and King to urge their colleagues to join them in voting against Scott Pruitt. The Senate is expected to vote on him tomorrow.
We also urge them to continue to stand up against the gutting of America’s health and environmental safeguards. These are threatened if Mr. Pruitt is confirmed as EPA Administrator. Maine stands to lose the clean air and water protections that are so vital to our health, economy, and way of life. We’re thankful that Maine’s senators oppose Pruitt’s anti-environment agenda by taking this stand against his nomination. We are counting on them to continue defending the health of Maine people, our nature-based economy, and safeguards for the clean air and clean water that define our state.
