EPA director is no friend to environment

The group Investigative Reporters and Editors has given Scott Pruitt, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Golden Padlock Award, which recognizes “the most secretive publicly funded person or agency in the United States.”

Pruitt, responsible for protecting the air we breathe and the water we drink, restricts access to his offices, has round-theclock Secret Service protection, prohibits cellphones in meetings, and evades Freedom of Information

Act requests for emails and public documents.

Instead of meeting with his staff and experts on the environment, he meets primarily with CEOs of oil, gas, and coal companies. Regulations on these industries have been significantly cut or are scheduled for cuts.

His most recent action is the effort to repeal the Clean Power Plan, which deals primarily with the regulation of coal. This will result in increased particulate matter spewed into the air, accelerating climate change. Even if you are a climate change denier, you cannot deny that the particulates will increase lung disease.

Pruitt’s proposal was sent to the Federal Register for publication. After publication, the public has 60 days to comment. Please lodge your protest with your congressional representatives. NILA WILBUR, WEST PALM BEACH Editor’s note: IRE, Investigative Reporters and Editors Inc., is, according to its website, a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting.