‘This appalling decision shows how quickly Pruitt is turning the EPA into an oil industry vending machine’

By Nika Knight, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published 3-3-2017

A fracking well flare in Scott Township, Pennsylvania. (Photo: WCN 24/7/flickr/cc)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Scott Pruitt on Thursday fulfilled environmentalists’ fears with a gift to the oil and gas industry, in the form of canceling an Obama-era request for information regarding methane emissions from fossil fuel facilities.

The cancellation followed a letter (pdf) sent to Pruitt on Wednesday from 11 attorneys general of pro-oil states, who spoke solely to industry concerns when they demanded that the EPA administrator revoke the request they described as “burdensome” and “onerous.” Continue reading →