American Farm Bureau officials are welcoming President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency after years of turbulent relations with the Obama administration’s EPA leadership.
Environmental groups see a rollback of Obama clean air and water rules, but AFBF and other farm groups are elated by Trump’s pick of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead EPA.
“We have watched as Attorney General Pruitt has taken on EPA,” says AFBF executive director Dale Moore. “He’s been one of the fighters in our effort to push back on Waters of the US, and taking on a number of those challenges that show that our state governments are paying as close attention to some of this regulatory creep that we’ve been fighting.”
Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall in a written statement says Pruitt who joined other attorneys general in legal action against the EPA should provide a “new degree of fairness” for agriculture.
Duvall says AFBF expects that Pruitt will listen to concerns of farmers and others who work daily with the nation’s natural resources, and Moore agrees things are about to change at the EPA.
“I think the tone and the tenor are in the process of changing and we very much look forward to working with Mr. Pruitt when he is approved by the Senate and put into his new role. We stand ready to work him to take these regulations that have been causing so many problems for our farmers and ranchers, and pull them back to the point where we’re doing our jobs.”
Pruitt must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate once Trump takes office next month.
The Texas energy industry is applauding Scott Pruitt’s selection. Texas Oil and Gas Association president Todd Staples says the nomination is good for America.
“I think that this appointment, or nomination should be encouraging to all Americans, to see that the president-elect is selecting leadership that understands protecting the environment and growing the economy are not mutually exclusive”
He says Pruitt recognizes the states are best suited to regulate different levels of activity. Staples adds Pruitt will be sensitive to the needs of energy producers and farmers. The National Pork Producers Council called the EPA selection, and that of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad for U.S. ambassador to China “good for our industry, good for agriculture and good for rural America and the country at large.”