RICHMOND – According to news reports published in Politico this morning, Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin plans today to announce Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, as Virginia’s next Secretary of Natural Resources. Wheeler, head of the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump Administration following the resignation of the blatantly corrupt Scott Pruitt, presided over an unprecedented rollback of environmental safeguards intended to protect clean air and water across our country – damage that the agency is still working to repair.
In response to this news, Michael Town, director ejecutivo de la Virginia League of Conservation Voters, emitió la siguiente declaración:
“Youngkin’s pick for Secretary of Natural Resources is simply unacceptable. As head of EPA under former President Trump, Wheeler did nothing more than cater to corporate polluter interests time and time again, putting their welfare ahead of our environment and Americans’ health. This is hands down the most extreme nomination for an environmental post in Virginia’s history and the absolute worst pick that the Governor-elect could make. While we were optimistic we might be able to find some common ground with the new Administration moving forward, this nomination makes it plainly clear that environmental protections are under attack in Virginia, and we are prepared to fight to defend them.”