EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Sunday defended massive 31 percent budget cuts at EPA, including funding for states to carry out federal programs saying, “We have state departments of environmental quality that have the resources and the expertise to deal with clean water and clean air issues,” on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.

On March 16 the Environmental Council of the States, which represents the state environmental agencies of all 50 states, said the “dramatic cuts” proposed by President Trump will adversely affect every state.”

Clearly, Pennsylvania does not now and has not had the resources to carry out its mission for some time. 

Pennsylvania has seen the General Assembly and Democratic and Republican governors cut the Department of Environmental Protection’s General Fund budget by 40 percent and its staff by 25 percent over the last 14 years.

Click Here for Pruitt’s comments on state funding.

Chris Wallace also pressed Prutt on climate and air quality issues.  Click Here for the full interview.

NewsClips:

Cusick: EPA Cuts Would Leave States With More Work, Less Money

Fox News: EPA’s Pruitt Says States Have The Resources To Do The Job

Trump Budget Cuts Said To Raise Terror Threat To Water Infrastructure

Editorial: Markets Will Support Natural Gas Severance Tax To Address Deficit

PA Officials Push To Save Heating Assistance Program

IFO Report Says Wolf’s Budget Would Raise Some Revenue, Lose Some Jobs

Trump Budget Cuts Said To Raise Terror Threat To Water Infrastructure

Ex-NJ Governors Urge Members Of Congress to Oppose Cuts At EPA

Q/A With Former GOP EPA Administrator Whitman On Trump’s Budget Cuts

Related Stories:

Proposed Trump Cuts To State Grants Will Cripple DEP, Cause Drastic Fee Increases

DEP: Federal Budget Cuts Will Have Immediate, Devastating Effect In PA

CBF On Proposed Elimination Of Federal Funding For Chesapeake Bay Program

Agriculture: Trump Budget Cuts Could Harm PA Agriculture, Rural Communities

50 State Environmental Agencies Group: EPA Cuts Will Adversely Affect States

Gov. Wolf Proposes New Budget With Little New For The Environment

CBF-PA: Wolf’s Budget Lacks Adequate Investments To Meet PA’s Clean Water Commitments

Growing Greener Coalition: Wolf Budget Falls Short In Protection Water, Other Natural Resources

[Posted: April 2, 2017]

4/10/2017