Trump's air pollution pick goes before senate at critical moment

Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is working to roll back regulations, close offices and eliminate staff at the agency. Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, is working to roll back regulations, close offices and eliminate staff at the agency. Photo: AL DRAGO, STR Photo: AL DRAGO, STR Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Trump's air pollution pick goes before senate at critical moment 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Expect some fierce questioning when President Donald Trump's pick to head the EPA's air pollution division gets his confirmation hearing Wednesday before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

A partner in the D.C. law firm Hunton Williams, Bill Wehrum is no stranger to EPA - he served in the agency under former President George W. Bush.

With EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt expected to announce in the weeks ahead his plans on whether to replace the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan - which would dramatically cut carbon emissions from the nation's power sector - Wehrum would be taking over as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation at a critical time.

Known as one of the country's most studied attorneys when it comes to U.S. air pollution law, Wehrum's has spent much of the last decade representing oil and gas and chemical companies before state and federal regulatory agencies.

"The grave concern is over his industry priorities and his dismal track record during the time he led or helped lead the Bush EPA air program," wrote John Walke, clean air project director at the environmental group Natural Resource Defense Council. "EPA failed to enforce the Clean Air Act to protect Americans' health, natural environment and air quality—repeatedly and egregiously. EPA erred, always, to the benefit of America's largest polluters."

As head of the air office, Wehrum would be responsible for carrying out a major slice of the Trump administration's deregulatory push, overseeing a portfolio that includes the energy, industrial and car industries.

Among Republicans Wehrum is known as a steady hand with decades of experience inside and outside the government.

"Bill Wehrum's understanding of the Clean Air Act may be second to none. His desire to pull up his sleeves and actually make the Clean Air Act work as a practical matter is second to none," wrote Marcus Peacock, EPA deputy administrator during the Bush administration.