Even some top House Republicans have some questions for EPA Chief Scott Pruitt.
They sit on the Energy and Commerce Committee and recently sent him a letter wondering how he came up with the new list of top 21 priority Superfund sites.
Representatives Greg Walden, Fred Upton and John Shimkus wrote Pruitt in recent days indicating some surprise that some superfund sites were included in the priorities list.
“Members specifically asked you about this list, and despite many of the sites included being of particular concern to Committee Members, we did not receive any indication from you that these sites would be included,” said the three.
They wondered what it will mean “for sites to be on the List and whether the stigma of being included on the list targeted for “immediate, intense action” with no additional funding will help or hinder the progress at these sites.”
The Congressmen asked Pruitt for more information about the decision-making process and specifically “how the decision was made to list the twenty-one sites.”
They also want to know “who was consulted in making the decision” and whether states were consulted as well as the “potentially responsible parties at these sites.”
The letter carries some weight since Rep. Walden is chairman of the committee and Rep. Shimkus is chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment. Rep. Fred Upton chairs the Subcommittee on Energy.
