Johanns Writes EPA Inspector General Seeking Investigation

 

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today wrote the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Arthur Elkins, Jr., requesting further scrutiny of ongoing practices at the agency.
“This EPA has pursued an aggressive agenda that, to many Nebraskans, seems more focused on harming agriculture in America and driving up electricity bills than achieving reasonable environmental goals,” Johanns said. “The recent release of private information, use of secret email accounts with pseudo-names to conceal official business, and potential collaboration with outside groups to generate lawsuits fuel our legitimate concerns. The EPA IG needs to carefully and impartially review these practices to ensure this agency acts transparently and within its legal boundaries.”
Johanns singles out three key areas of concern, including the agency’s multiple releases of personal information to anti-ag groups, conducting official business through unofficial electronic accounts, and a practice known as “sue and settle,” where EPA negotiates settlements behind closed doors.