releases: https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-holds-congressional-oversight-hearing-epa-administrator
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-holds-congressional-oversight-hearing-epa-administrator | Greg Walden holds Congressional oversight hearing with EPA Administrator | 2017-12-07 | 2017 | 2017-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden holds Congressional oversight hearing with EPA Administrator Discusses Portland Superfund cleanup, air quality standards following wildfires in Oregon Click here or on the image above to view Waldens remarks at todays hearing WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today held a Congressional oversight hearing at the Energy and Commerce Committee with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt. The hearing, entitled The Mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was Pruitts first appearance before Waldens Energy and Commerce Committee since being sworn in as EPA Administrator. During the hearing, Walden stressed the need for the EPA to return to its mission of protecting the environment without sidestepping Congress. "I expect that Back to Basics is not an abdication of environmental protection, but rather a rededication to mastering the most fundamental aspects of EPAs mission whether its cleaning up Superfund sites, ensuring that safe drinking water is being piped into peoples homes, or keeping air clean and safe to breathe, said Walden. The public deserves to be protected and common-sense regulations are important and necessary. However, government solutions should be proportional to the problems they are tasked by Congress to solve. I believe the EPA should focus on innovative problem solving and partnerships with the states and the private sector that leverage their resources and expertise. Walden also discussed several matters under EPAs jurisdiction that directly impact Oregon, including the Port of Portland Superfund cleanup and air quality standards after this years devastating wildfire season. I want to thank you and your team for your attention to the Superfund cleanup in the Portland Harbor. While this area is not in my district, it is in my state and what happens at the Port of Portland has an impact on all Oregonians, said Walden. You have brought a fresh and welcome approach to this complicated and costly cleanup. Unlike the prior administration, youve proven that this administration wants to actually clean up environmental messes, and do the work in a commonsense manner in close working partnership with local stakeholders. To paraphrase an old song, if you can do it there, you can do it anywhere. Click here or on the image above to view Waldens questioning of Administrator Pruitt Walden also asked Administrator Pruitt how the EPA can better streamline the determination process for the agency's exceptional events rule, which specifically relates to air quality standards after extreme weather events such as wildfires. Walden said that after this years devastating wildfire season in Oregon and across much of the West, it is important to increase the efficiency of the process for states like Oregon seeking the exception. One of the other issues that has come up is the Clean Air Acts exceptional events process. Weve had all these wildfires -- theyve had horrible wildfires again in California -- in the Northwest, said Walden. It has been subject of some of our hearing here about how that process works today, and the amount of time and money it takes to go through it to get an exception. What can you do to ensure a more-timely and cost-effective EPA process on exceptional event determinations? According to the EPA, exceptional events are unusual or naturally occurring events that can affect air quality but are not reasonably controllable using techniques that state or local air agencies may implement in order to adhere to national air quality standards.Exceptional events include wildfires, stratospheric ozone intrusions and volcanic and seismic activities. Pruitt said to Walden that the EPA must do a better job of providing clarity for how the rule is applied and how the determination process is carried out. We need to provide clarity in that area so that we know how these rules will be enforced and applied going forward. That clarity is not there presently, and that is a focus of the agency presently as we go into 2018. Walden said the Energy and Commerce Committee would work closely with Administrator Pruitt and his team at the EPA to ensure that clarity is provided. This will allow the EPA to better determine if air quality monitoring data for a specific area has been influenced by exceptional events such as wildfires. Wed like to work with you on that, said Walden. It is important to a number of members on our committee. For more information on todays hearing, including witness testimony, background memo, and archived webcast, please click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |