"The Senate on Thursday confirmed the Environmental Protection Agency’s second-in-command, Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist who not only shares the deregulatory zeal of Scott Pruitt, the E.P.A. chief, but also his doubtful view of climate science."
"Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, insisted on staying in luxury hotels that were costlier than allowed by government standards, while also pushing to fly on an airline not on the government’s approved list so he could accrue more frequent flier miles, one of his top former deputies at agency has told congressional investigators."
"Interior Department officials on Thursday completely backed off a proposal to increase entrance fees at some national parks, opting instead for an across-the-board $5 increase at all parks that charge visitors to enter."
"A December trip to Morocco by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt could benefit Carl Icahn, an activist investor who holds a controlling stake in the largest U.S. natural gas exporter and who helped Pruitt secure his position in President Trump's Cabinet."
"House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway on April 12 kicked off a battle over the next farm bill by releasing draft legislation that would make some improvements to major commodity programs, while overhauling conservation policy and making sweeping reforms to nutrition assistance."
"U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to speed up its decision-making on air quality permitting to make it easier for manufacturers to expand and open new plants."
"U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday his administration may allow the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol year-round, which could help farmers by firing up corn demand but faces opposition from Big Oil."
"New Jersey’s Democrat-led Legislature on Thursday passed a $300-million-a-year financial bailout for the state’s nuclear industry, one that could raise the bills of utility ratepayers by $41 a year if approved by Gov. Phil Murphy."
"Wildfire smoke is bad for your lungs, but now scientists say it may be just as bad for your heart."
"The residents of Baca, a small town on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, are like those of any other town in America. ...But the residents of Baca live without clean, running water in their homes."
"The Interior Department reassigned 27 senior executives 'without a written plan or clear criteria, and without consulting the departmental leadership,' according to a department inspector general report released Wednesday."
"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hasn’t given congressional investigators all of the information they requested about Administrator Scott Pruitt’s official travel spending, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said in a letter on Wednesday."
"At least two members appointed by Scott Pruitt to the EPA Science Advisory Board received industry funding for research that's bolstering agency efforts to roll back greenhouse gas rules for cars."
"A blockbuster deal between Bayer and Monsanto appears to be moving ahead. On Monday, the US Department of Justice approved the German pharmaceutical and chemical group's bid to buy the US seed giant for more than $60 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported. Bayer agreed to sell off additional assets to alleviate anti-trust concerns."
"Frustrated by President Trump's continued support for embattled EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, Senate Democrats are vowing an all-out floor fight against the man nominated to occupy the No. 2 slot at the agency."
Advertisements 
