Business Leaders Oppose Wheeler for EPA Head

Washington, DC – In response to the announcement late last week that President Trump will nominate Andrew Wheeler to head the EPA, the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) released the following statement. It may be attributed to CEO Hammad Atassi.

“We strongly oppose Andrew Wheeler for EPA Administrator. We believe he will continue his predecessor’s harmful deregulation at the EPA, reversing vital environmental and human health safeguards. We reject the rationale that such policies are good for business – or what responsible business leaders want. Instead, the Pruitt-Wheeler approach adds to health, environmental and economic costs that hurts all businesses.”

Last year, ASBC sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works to oppose the nomination of Scott Pruitt. It said, in part: “Since its inception in 1970, the EPA, whether under a Republican or Democratic administration, has sought to balance environmental stewardship and economic goals. Business leaders across the economy understand that environmental regulations are essential for economic growth and that they help to improve the quality of life in communities.

“The new administration has chosen to prioritize the narrow economic self-interests of the fossil fuel industry and other polluters over growing the broader economy and creating U.S. jobs through investments in clean energy.”