Questions Abound As Wehrum Heads For The Exit

[hatrack]

EDIT

Wehrum didn't respond to an email asking why he's leaving. Neither Wheeler's news release nor Wehrum's staff note gave any indication of his plans. Before moving to EPA in November 2017, Wehrum had been a partner at the law firm now known as Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. A spokeswoman for the firm had no immediate comment today when asked whether he intends to return to private law practice there.

Wehrum had worked in the George W. Bush administration's Office of Air and Radiation from 2001 to 2007, including a stint as acting chief. He quit, with similarly little notice, after it became clear that he could not win Senate confirmation to get the job on a long-term basis (Greenwire, May 23, 2007).

Today, environmental groups and top congressional Democrats hailed the news that he is again stepping down. "Wehrum did more damage to the Clean Air Act than any other person in the last 40 years," Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. "His legacy will be more premature deaths, more hospital visits and more asthma attacks to our most vulnerable citizens."

Wehrum's departure "comes as welcome news for all those who value EPA's mission of protecting public health and the environment," House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said in a news release.

EDIT

https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2019/06/26/stories/1060659563

[klook]

1. Probably a sweet deal waiting with some thunk tank. (nt)