CRAMER QUESTIONS ADMINISTRATOR PRUITT DURING COMMITTEE HEARING

Recording: Download Video

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Kevin Cramer questioned U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt at the Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee hearing today. Pruitt was invited to testify before the committee to discuss the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget for the EPA.

Cramer expressed his appreciation for Pruitt’s extensive knowledge on the policies the EPA is implementing and thanked him for the agency’s recent approval for Class VI wells primacy for North Dakota. The request first made in 2013 authorized the State to receive primacy over Class VI well activities for geologic storage of carbon dioxide.  

During the exchange Pruitt spoke on New Source Review and detailed how its permitting process works against companies seeking investment opportunities to lower emission levels.

While addressing the claims of a lack of scientific transparency by the EPA, Pruitt testified that data, methodology, and conclusions matter and the American people need to be able to consume that. Cramer asked Pruitt on how personal data can be protected when making scientific resource inquiries from protected sources.

Regarding President Trump commissioning Pruitt to find balance in both carrying out the mission of environmental protection while looking out for the economy and jobs creation, Cramer said, “Cooperative federalism is something that has been lost in previous administrations.”   

To view the video of the exchange click here.   

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