On Feb. 5 the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee voted along party lines to confirm Acting-EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to agency administrator. Wheeler has served as Acting Administrator since July 2018, when then-Administrator Scott Pruitt resigned. Wheeler now faces a vote of support before the full Senate before officially becoming the new EPA Administrator.
Wheeler was expected to receive committee confirmation, although several Senators showed concerns recently over EPA’s handling of toxic chemicals contaminating drinking water around the country. In December, Wheeler signed off on a chemical management plan that would not regulate a pair of PFAS chemicals. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said that Wheeler had given her private assurances that the decision was not yet final—but she wants him to put it in writing. She and a bipartisan group of 20 Senators sent Wheeler a letter on Feb. 1, urging him to commit to the development of an "enforceable" drinking water standard for both chemicals. The letter asks Wheeler to commit to reversing course and commit to setting a federal limit for the chemicals in drinking water. (Politico, 2/1/19)
"Without enforceable drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS, it is doubtful that a national management strategy will sufficiently confront the challenges PFAS chemicals pose to states and affected communities," the letter reads.
Wheeler was narrowly confirmed for his current job as EPA’s Deputy Administrator last April, amid complaints from Democrats and environmentalists that his former job as a coal lobbyist could pose conflicts at the agency. Wheeler has again vowed to steer clear of decisions affecting former clients.
