The prominent coal-industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler, a former Senate staff member, “is likely to be tapped as the No. 2 official at the Environmental Protection Agency,” says Axios, citing two people familiar with the decision-making process. “The expected appointment for deputy EPA administrator is a turnaround from last month when the White House was poised to tap Jeff Holmstead, a former top EPA official under President George W. Bush,” and a more moderate choice than Wheeler.
“Wheeler’s likely nomination shows the influence of conservatives, both inside and outside the administration, over environmental and energy policy. Wheeler has been more outspoken in questioning the science behind climate change than Holmstead,” said Axios. Wheeler is a former staffer for Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe, a leading climate-change denier. Axios said Wheeler has lobbied for Murray Energy, a coal mining company, since at least 2009.
The Washington Post said, “Wheeler has been an outspoken critic of nationwide limits on greenhouse-gas emissions, as well as scientific bodies such as the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.” The Post said EPA administrator Scott Pruitt was preparing to name three conservatives to run three key EPA divisions.