"Bill Wehrum, an Architect of EPA Rollbacks, Faces New Ethics Inquiry"

"WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency’s inspector general will investigate allegations that William L. Wehrum, the agency’s former air quality chief, violated ethics rules when he met with former clients from his days as a lawyer and lobbyist for the oil, gas and coal industries.

The inquiry will look into whether Mr. Wehrum’s efforts at the E.P.A. to weaken climate change and air pollution standards improperly benefited those former clients, a congressional aide said.

At issue are Mr. Wehrum’s ties to the Utility Air Regulatory Group, a coalition of utilities and trade groups that lobbies on behalf of coal-fired power plants, which he represented as a lawyer at his former firm, Hunton & Williams."

Lisa Friedman reports for the New York Times July 22, 2019.

SEE ALSO:

"EPA’s Watchdog Scrutinizes Ethics Practices Of Former Air Policy Chief" (Washington Post)

"Former EPA Air Policy Chief Probed By Inspector General, Senate Democrats" (Washington Post)

"Senate Probe Links Wehrum, Law Firm in Air Rules Revamp" (Bloomberg Environment)

"Industry’s Pipeline to Power at EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation" (Senate Environment Democrats)

Source: NY Times, 07/23/2019