Washington, D.C. – The Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal) applauds U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt for his Agency’s decision to end the practice known as “Sue and Settle.” Way too much environmental policy making in recent years was conducted through this practice, which sought to circumvent the proper legislative and regulatory processes. In short, the practice consisted of green ideologues within the government colluding with external green activists to push through an extreme regulatory agenda on the unsuspecting public using the court system, which also translated into huge financial windfalls for the green groups involved.
Following is a statement by E&E Legal Senior Policy Fellow Steve Milloy in response to today’s decision by the EPA to end ‘sue and settle’ practices within the Agency, and promote transparency in consent decrees and settlement agreements:
By ending the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Sue and Settle” practice as well as improving transparency in consent decrees and settlement agreements, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt is following through on President Trump’s promise to “drain the swamp.” Sue and settle has become just another way for special interest environmental organizations to impose their agenda on the American people, and it has found a willing partner in the EPA. Rather than going through congressional lawmaking authority, these groups have found it more convenient to go through the courts as a means of expanding government regulations.
In rolling back this practice and creating more transparency in the EPA, President Trump will save taxpayers millions in court costs and regulatory headaches. We at Energy and Environment Legal Institute applaud this decision by the administration and look forward to President Trump’s continued efforts to “drain the swamp” and improve the lives of all Americans by removing the heavy hand of government from their daily lives.
About E&E Legal
The Energy & Environment Legal Institute (E&E Legal) is a 501(c)(3) organization engaged in strategic litigation, policy research, and public education on important energy and environmental issues. Primarily through its petition litigation and transparency practice areas, E&E Legal seeks to correct onerous federal and state policies that hinder the economy, increase the cost of energy, eliminate jobs, and do little or nothing to improve the environment.
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