Latest news with #Fotouhi
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top EPA nominees face Senate scrutiny over plan to undo key climate finding
By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Trump nominees to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's deregulatory efforts are expected to face questions at their Senate confirmation on Wednesday about the agency's plans to gut the basis for greenhouse gas emission rules. At issue is whether the agency intends to unwind the 2009 'endangerment finding', which cleared a path for regulating greenhouse gases under the U.S. Clean Air Act and formed the basis for numerous EPA climate rules, including on power plants and vehicle tailpipe emissions. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has recommended attempting to reverse the finding to the White House, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The EPA confirmed there was a recommendation, but did not disclose its details. The Senate environment committee on Wednesday will weigh the confirmation of Aaron Szabo to be the EPA's assistant administrator for Air and Radiation and David Fotouhi to be deputy administrator - two key roles that would lead any efforts to unwind the endangerment finding. When Fotouhi served as EPA general counsel during the first Trump administration, the agency did not pursue reversal of the endangerment finding amid industry pushback. Fotouhi and Szabo were not available for comment. The Supreme Court ruled in a 2007 case, Massachusetts v. EPA, that greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act and that EPA must issue a finding that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger public health and the environment. The EPA under former President Barack Obama finalized the finding in 2009, and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act – former President Joe Biden's signature climate law - codified language deeming greenhouse gases are air pollutants. The Edison Electric Institute, a utility trade group, declined to comment on potential plans to roll back the endangerment finding but referred Reuters to a 2022 legal brief in which it said that the industry has "come to rely on EPA's authority" to regulate greenhouse gases. The Alliance For Automotive Innovation said its members have not yet weighed in on whether the endangerment finding should be reversed, spokesperson Brian Weiss said. Zeldin, a former New York Congressman, said in his Senate confirmation hearing that the endangerment finding gives EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gases, but that the agency isn't obligated to do so.
Reuters
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Top EPA nominees face Senate scrutiny over plan to undo key climate finding
WASHINGTON, March 5 (Reuters) - Two Trump nominees to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's deregulatory efforts are expected to face questions at their Senate confirmation on Wednesday about the agency's plans to gut the basis for greenhouse gas emission rules. At issue is whether the agency intends to unwind the 2009 'endangerment finding', which cleared a path for regulating greenhouse gases under the U.S. Clean Air Act and formed the basis for numerous EPA climate rules, including on power plants and vehicle tailpipe emissions. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has recommended attempting to reverse the finding to the White House, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The EPA confirmed there was a recommendation, but did not disclose its details. The Senate environment committee on Wednesday will weigh the confirmation of Aaron Szabo to be the EPA's assistant administrator for Air and Radiation and David Fotouhi to be deputy administrator - two key roles that would lead any efforts to unwind the endangerment finding. When Fotouhi served as EPA general counsel during the first Trump administration, the agency did not pursue reversal of the endangerment finding amid industry pushback. Fotouhi and Szabo were not available for comment. The Supreme Court ruled in a 2007 case, Massachusetts v. EPA, that greenhouse gases are air pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act and that EPA must issue a finding that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere endanger public health and the environment. The EPA under former President Barack Obama finalized the finding in 2009, and the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act – former President Joe Biden's signature climate law - codified language deeming greenhouse gases are air pollutants. The Edison Electric Institute, a utility trade group, declined to comment on potential plans to roll back the endangerment finding but referred Reuters to a 2022 legal brief in which it said that the industry has "come to rely on EPA's authority" to regulate greenhouse gases. The Alliance For Automotive Innovation said its members have not yet weighed in on whether the endangerment finding should be reversed, spokesperson Brian Weiss said. Zeldin, a former New York Congressman, said in his Senate confirmation hearing that the endangerment finding gives EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gases, but that the agency isn't obligated to do so.
Reuters
24-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Trump pick for EPA official discloses industry clients, law firm pay
Feb 24 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as the second-in-charge at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency earned at least $3.2 million in legal fees over the last year representing clients including Chevron, Ford and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, according to documents made public, opens new tab on Monday. The filings for David Fotouhi of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, nominated to serve as deputy administrator of the EPA, were posted to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, which oversees the executive branch's ethics program. Gibson Dunn, Fotouhi's longtime law firm, employs more than 2,000 attorneys and is one of the largest and most profitable law firms in the United States. He served in EPA's legal office during the first Trump administration before returning to the firm. The Trump administration has vowed to roll back the Biden-era climate agenda, including EPA regulations to reduce carbon dioxide, methane and other emissions. Fotouhi's nomination is pending before a U.S. Senate committee. Fotouhi and Gibson Dunn did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Financial statements are mandatory public filings for many high-level executive branch officials. The disclosures show income from the prior calendar year up to the date of the filing. Fotouhi's disclosure showed he provided legal services to other Gibson Dunn clients, including Sunoco, Boeing, CSX, Delta Air Lines, Kimberly-Clark and Lowe's. He also provided legal work to NEOM Company, a massive development project in the Saudi Arabian desert, according to the disclosure. The filings do not show the scope of Fotouhi's involvement. Fotouhi said he would divest financial interests, opens new tab in Amazon, American Express, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and Morgan Stanley. Trump's EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin, this month said the agency would seek to end Biden-era contracts to distribute $20 billion in grants to fund clean energy and transportation projects in disadvantaged communities.
