EPA resignation has local group hoping for more attention to area

The change in EPA leadership could mean good news for some and more of the same for others in the community who are concerned about the environment.

The resignation of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has brought mixed reactions in the community. Some said his environmental policies went against the mission of the agency which is to protect the environment, not neglect it.

Comite Civico del Valle Director Jose Luis Olmedo said, “The previous administrator had rolled out a program called Making A Visible Difference in communities. We were one of 50 communities across the United States that were working with the USEPA. In our case we were working with Region Nine. And they were bringing all their resources. Whether it was their consultants to help us put together plans on how to make best use of these contaminated sites, outreach, air monitoring.”

All that collaboration and work with local organizations stopped under Pruitt.

“We had a lot of good projects where they were involved in the community. The community came first. Public health protections and environmental protections came first. As soon as this administration came in all that, the resources and all that help that was coming to the imperial valley was gone,” Olmedo said.

Others in the community said Pruitt’s work made it easier on businesses.

Manufacturing businessman Ray Armenta said, “I think from a business perspective, many of us enjoyed the lowering of some of the regulations that we’re all expected to operate under. In that sense, it was actually good for us.”

Armenta hopes Pruitt’s work continues under the new administrator.

“It would be nice and a breath of fresh air to continue the process that was started under Pruitt in lowering some of the regulations to give us all some breathing room as we’re manufacturing, developing in keeping businesses here within the United States,” Armenta said.

Olmedo said it might be more of the same under the new leadership. But, they’re not discouraged.

“With or without the USEPA, we as an environmental justice organization, we’re still moving the needle forward. We haven’t given up,” Olmedo said.

President Trump announced Andrew Wheeler as the EPA Acting Administrator. Wheeler worked closely under Pruitt.