Pruitt’s Calendar Reveals Busy Schedule Full of Fossil Fuel Meetings

Administrator Scott Pruitt led a busy life as he settled into the top post at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to scheduling data released to E&E News late Thursday.

During his initial five weeks in office, Oklahoma’s former attorney general met with governors and energy leaders but failed to hold discussions with environmental activists until Earth Day.

Before convincing President Trump to ditch the Paris climate accord, Pruitt held separate luncheon meetings with Ivanka Trump on March 13 followed by a meeting with Stephen Miller, a Trump conservative adviser, a few days later.

Pruitt also met with energy industry leaders including Coal CEO Bob Murray; Andrew Liveris of Dow Chemical; Lynn Good of Duke Energy; Sean Trauschke, Paul Renfrow and George Baker of OGE Energy; National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Jim Matheson; BMW Global Chairman CEO Harald Krüger; and A.J. Ferate, vice president of regulatory affairs at Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association.

According to the report, Pruitt addressed the executive committee and board of directors of the American Petroleum Institute at the new Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C.

On March 22, Pruitt met with Kevin Hern, a Tulsa businessman seeking the seat of Rep. Jim Bridenstine, who said he would limit himself to three terms. He also held discussions with Greg Love of Love’s Travel Stops regarding points of obligation from oil refiners to fuel blenders.

Pruitt’s calendar reflects an April 22 meeting with the Nature Conservancy and Audubon Society. This coincides with Earth Day.

A review of more than 4,000 recently released emails also confirmed that Pruitt and his staff held numerous meetings with oil and gas and coal industry executives.