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February 22nd, 2017 
Awake Goy 
Susanne Posel ,Chief Editor Occupy Corporatism | Host of Hardline Radio Show
More than 7,500 emails and other records have been published by the Oklahoma attorney general’s office concerning current head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt and his close relationship with oil and gas corporations.
Nick Surgey, research director for the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) said these “emails show a very cozy relationship between Pruitt’s office and particularly Devon Energy, as well as other coal, oil and gas companies.”
Surgey went on to say: “Pruitt is the world’s top environmental regulator now and these emails raise serious conflict of interest concerns. He has very close ties to fossil fuel firms and has shown himself to be generally opposed to the rules the EPA has to protect the environment.”
While acting attorney general for Oklahoma, Pruitt took actions that benefiting the fossil fuels industry; including going after the EPA 19 times on behalf of Big Oil.
American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), a mega-lobby for oil and gas, provided ready-made for copy-and-paste language that could be used to assist their interests; such as providing a template in opposition to 2013 ozone limited and renewable fuel standards.
Pruitt’s office was in contact with Richard Moskowitz, general counsel for AFPM. Between the two, they filed for waivers from federal regulations concerning the use of renewable fuels. Moskowitz wrote in one email to Thomas Bates, first assistant to Pruitt: “We think it would be most effective for Oklahoma to file a separate waiver petition that emphasizes ‘severe environmental harm,’ as this argument is more credible coming from a state with primary responsibility for achieving and maintaining attainment with the [National Ambient Air Quality Standards].”
In another email, Mosokowitz received questions about “what to do” by P. Clayton Eubanks, another deputy solicitor general for Pruitt.
Eubanks wrote: “I apologize for not being up to speed on the issue. I have had the opportunity now to become more familiar with the RFS and its obvious shortcomings and problems. I think it is safe to say that AG Pruitt has an interest in the issue.” He added: “Hopefully I haven’t missed the boat too much on these questions but I want to make sure I fully understand what Oklahoma’s role will be.”
Another friendly to Pruitt is the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a consistent climate denier and arguably one of the largest Koch Brothers’ sponsored lobby groups. Correspondence between ALEC and Pruitt resulted in a meeting with Amy Anderson, director of the Oklahoma chapter of ALEC and Pruitt’s executive assistant.
Pruitt was praised at a lunch meeting and workshop called “Embracing American Energy Opportunities: From Wellheads to Pipelines” sponsored by Koch Industries wherein Pruitt spoke to the attendees “on state primacy in oil and gas regulation and the EPA’s sue & settle modus operandi.”
In an email regarding the meeting, Pruitt was thanked on all he was “doing to push back against President Obama’s EPA and its axis with liberal environmental groups to increase energy costs for Oklahomans and American families across the states.”
Another email from Pruitt’s deputy solicitor general from 2013 asks Bill Whitsitt, a Devon Energy executive, “any suggestions” while discussing plans for an opposition letter being sent to the EPA on the regulations of methane emissions.
Whitsitt writes back: “Here you go. Please note that you could use just the red changes, or both red and blue (the latter being some further improvements from one of our experts) or none.”
Pruitt’s deputy thanked Whitsitt “for all your help on this” in a response email.
Susanne Posel
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