Overnight Energy: EPA kicking scientists who get grants off advisory boards

EPA: GRANTS ARE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Scott PruittEdward (Scott) Scott Pruitt19 sens question EPA methodology behind Clean Power Plan repeal Overnight Energy: House panels open probes into Whitefish power deal with Puerto Rico Trump’s Senate oversight holiday must end MORE rolled out his long-awaited policy Tuesday that he says would reduce conflicts of interest on the EPA’s advisory boards by barring people who receive grants from serving on them.

The policy, rolled out at an EPA event, bars hundreds of expert scientists working in environmental and health fields at universities from serving on the boards. Conversely, it would almost certainly increase the representation from companies and industry groups on the panels.

The policy change was quickly denounced by Democrats and environmental groups, who called it a poorly disguised attempt to push out experts at odds with industry.

But Republicans, who have long been seeking the same goals through other means, applauded the policy.

EPA grantees, Pruitt said, inevitably are conflicted because of the money they receive from the agency.

“Those advisory committees have given us the bedrock of science to ensure that we’re making informed decisions,” Pruitt said at the event.

“And when we have members of those committees that have received tens of millions of dollars in grants at the same time that they’re advising this agency on rulemaking, that is not good and that’s not right,” he said.

EPA advisory committee members have gotten $77 million in EPA grants over the last three years, Pruitt said.

“We want to ensure that there’s integrity in the process, and that the scientists who are advising us are doing so with not any type of appearance of conflict,” he said. “And when you receive that much money … there’s a question that arises about independence.”

Pruitt cited a Bible verse from the Book of Joshua, in which Joshua led the people of Israel to the Promised Land, but asked them to choose between worshipping God or their “false gods.”

“Choose this day whom you will serve,” Pruitt said, quoting Joshua.

“This is sort of like the Joshua principle,” he said. “Either service on the committee to provide counsel to us in an independent fashion or choose the grant. But you can’t do both.”

Read more here.

 

EPA SETTLES WITH EXXON: The Trump administration has reached a deal worth more than $300 million with Exxon Mobil Corp. to settle claims that eight of its plants released unacceptable amounts of air pollutants.

The bulk of the settlement value — $300 million — is the estimated cost of upgrades to the chemical and plastics plants in Texas and Louisiana.

Exxon is also paying $2.5 million in civil penalties to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies, and spending $1 million to plant trees in a city near one plant.

The EPA and the Justice Department announced the settlement Tuesday, along with a settlement with Colorado-based PDC Energy Inc. to resolve claims that its natural gas condensate facilities in the Denver area exceeded legal emissions limits. That agreement is worth more than $22 million.

“Enforcement actions such as the two we’re announcing today are important steps to bring companies into compliance, introducing better technology and providing deterrence to other companies through the imposition of civil penalties,” Jeff Wood, the acting head of the environment division at the Justice Department, told reporters.

“These actions help to ensure a level playing field where all industry members are held to the same legal standard and no company can gain an economic advantage over its competitors by short-changing environmental compliance.”

Read more here.

 

WHITE HOUSE STANDS BY CLOVIS AMID RUSSIA PROBE: The Trump administration is standing by its nomination of Sam Clovis to be the top scientist at the Agriculture Department despite his new ties to the Russia investigation.

Special counsel Robert Muller interviewed Clovis as part of his investigation last week, NBC News reported Tuesday.

Questions have been swirling around Clovis since the Justice Department revealed Monday that George Papadopoulos, a low-level foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, pleaded guilty to charges that he lied to federal investigators about his contacts with Russians during the campaign.

The complaint against Papadopoulos says that he had been encouraged by his campaign supervisor to pursue meetings with Russian officials promising damaging information on Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonBlumenthal: Trump-tied data firm reaching out to WikiLeaks ‘significant’ Tillerson eliminates key State Department sanctions office: report Intel Dem: What’s in dossier more important than who paid for it MORE.

Several media outlets have reported that Papadopoulos reported directly to Clovis, who faces a Senate confirmation hearing for the Agriculture position next month.

But White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters at Tuesday’s briefing that he would remain the Agriculture nominee for now.

“I’m not aware that any change would be necessary at this point,” she said.

Clovis is already facing a difficult confirmation hearing because of his lack of scientific background, history of controversial statements and disbelief in climate change.

Read more here.

 

DISASTER RECOVERY COSTING FEDS $200 MILLION PER DAY:  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is spending an estimated $200 million per day on recovery efforts following a trio of hurricanes and a severe wildfire season, a top official said Tuesday.

Administrator Brock Long told senators that the agency still has “numbers coming in” about the costs associated with Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, as well as the wildfires in western states.

Asked whether the Trump administration would request more emergency funding for the disasters, Long implied that was likely.

“I don’t think we have a good handle on the total cost of this, but you can rest assured my guys will be in touch with your staff members to make sure we don’t fumble the ball when it comes to disaster recovery, and we’ll do our best to take care of taxpayer dollars,” Long said at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee meeting Tuesday.

Lawmakers have already appropriated about $56.6 billion for disaster relief this year.

Read more here.

 

Senators, Brock seek distance from Whitefish deal: Brock and members of the Homeland Security Committee – including Montana’s two senators – sought to distance themselves from the since-canceled construction deal between Whitefish Energy and Puerto Rico.

Sen. Steve DainesSteven (Steve) David DainesHigh stakes as Trump heads to Hill Overnight Energy: EPA to repeal emissions rule for trucks | Disaster relief bill clears Senate hurdle Overnight Regulation: Treasury slams consumer bureau’s arbitration rule | EPA considers repealing truck emissions rule | GOP senators offer wildfire management bill MORE (R-Mont.) said that he “was a bit surprised when I heard the story of a small contractor of two people, most people had never heard of, including myself, getting the contract” to help rebuild Puerto Rico’s electrical grid after Hurricane Maria. Whitefish Energy is based in Whitefish, Montana.

Sen. Jon TesterJonathan (Jon) TesterBig names face off over Montana GOP primary Five takeaways from new Senate fundraising reports GOP senator offering single-payer proposal to get Dems on record MORE (D-Mont.) said that while he “should be tickled pink they gave a contract to a company from Montana,” he questioned the decision-making behind the contract, which was issued by Puerto Rico’s state-run electric utility late last month.

FEMA was due to help Puerto Rico pay for the $300 million repair contract. But Brock said the agency didn’t look over the contract before it was announced, and that “there is no lawyer inside FEMA who would have agreed to the language inside that contract.”

 

ON TAP WEDNESDAY I: The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee holds a confirmation hearing for NASA Administrator nominee Jim BridenstineJames (Jim) Frederick BridenstineDem senator calls on Congress to oppose Trump’s pick for NASA chief Jim Bridenstine is the leader NASA needs The United States and Canada can make space great again together MORE.

 

ON TAP WEDNESDAY II: A House Space, Science and Technology subcommittee will hold a hearing on low dose radiation research.

 

FROM THE HILL’S OPINION PAGE:

Consumer Action for a Strong Economy President Matthew Kandrach argues the American electric grid is too vulnerable.   

Two scholars warn that the U.S.’s nuclear plants are susceptible to cyberattacks.

A pair of forestry and ecology professors write against two congressional wildfire bills.

 

AROUND THE WEB:

The CEO of Scana Corp., the energy company behind South Carolina’s abandoned Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station, resigned Tuesday, the Post and Courier reports.

New Zealand could release more visas for climate change refugees, The Guardian reports.  

A company looking to design cleaner-burning coal plants will soon begin work on a test facility in Wyoming, the Associated Press reports.

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

Check out Tuesday’s stories…

-Alaska governor signs order on climate change strategy

-Top GOP senator won’t rule out gas tax hike for infrastructure upgrades

-White House: No change in plans for Sam Clovis nomination

-West Coast Dems lead call to fund early warning system for earthquakes

-GOP chairman presses social media companies over Russian energy ads

-EPA blocks scientists who get grants from its advisory boards

-Trump admin inks $300M air pollution settlement with Exxon

-Trade panel recommends Trump impose tariffs on solar power technology

-FEMA chief: Feds spending $200 million a day on hurricane, wildfire recovery

-UN environment chief: US could meet Paris goals despite Trump

 

Please send tips and comments to Timothy Cama, tcama@thehill.com and Devin Henry dhenry@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @Timothy_Cama, @dhenry, @thehill

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Moore makes nice with Senate Republicans in trip to Capitol Hill

Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore met with the Senate GOP caucus on Tuesday, putting him face to face with the Republican establishment that he has railed against for months.

Moore, a former state judge, stopped by the party’s closed-door lunch, which is also attended by Vice President Pence, as part of a whirlwind tour of Capitol Hill.

The powwow marked the biggest indicator to date of establishment Republicans moving to accept Moore ahead of a special election in December to fill the seat vacated when Jeff SessionsJefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsDallas Morning News: Cornyn ‘betrays’ GOP by backing Roy Moore Overnight Regulation: Trump declares opioids a public health emergency | Mark Kelly lobbied Scalise on guns | Warren rips plans to ease bank oversight | Coal industry advocate tapped for mining regulator Bipartisan groups call on DOJ to scrutinize ATT-Time Warner merger MORE joined the Trump administration as attorney general.

Moore defeated Sen. Luther StrangeLuther Johnson StrangeSasse: Alabama Senate race looks ‘crappy to me’ Moore signs fundraising agreement with RNC, NRSC: report Cruz throws support behind Roy Moore in Alabama Senate race MORE (R-Ala.) during a heated primary fight in September. The battle pitted former White House strategist Stephen Bannon against most GOP senators including Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellGOP Senate hopeful rips McConnell for ‘smearing’ conservatives Overnight Finance: House adopts Senate budget, taking step to tax reform | GOP worries Trump feuds will endanger tax plan | Trump talks NAFTA withdrawal with senators | Treasury calls for looser oversight of insurers Trump’s Senate oversight holiday must end MORE (Ky.) as well as President Trump, who supported Strange.

Republicans said after the closed-door meeting Tuesday that Moore didn’t speak much during the lunch, beyond introducing himself.

“He said a few words, spoke to me. … He was very professional,” Sen. Richard ShelbyRichard Craig ShelbyInside Trump’s meeting with Senate GOP Republicans walking tightrope ahead of budget resolution vote Senate starts debate on budget, pushing forward with tax reform MORE (R-Ala.) told reporters.

Asked about his meeting with the caucus, a spokesman for the Senate GOP leader noted that “candidates traditionally attend a policy lunch after they become the nominee” but declined to describe any interactions.

A spokesman for Moore’s campaign declined to say who else Moore met with on Tuesday, except to note that he was meeting with other senators.

Despite actively opposing Moore during the GOP primary race, outside groups and Republicans are increasingly rallying around Moore ahead of the December special election.

As the Republican, Moore has long been expected to win in the deep-red state. But more recent polls have proved surprisingly close, with the RealClearPolitics polling index currently putting Moore up only 6 points over Democrat Doug Jones.

Moore’s visit to Capitol Hill wasn’t without controversy, with some of his potential colleagues unwilling to fully embrace him given his past rhetoric.

“I’ll examine his entire record before I decide. … I’ll have to see what he has to say about his positions, and examine his record,” McCain told reporters when asked if he supported Moore.

Sen. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeGOP Senate hopeful rips McConnell for ‘smearing’ conservatives Dallas Morning News: Cornyn ‘betrays’ GOP by backing Roy Moore Michael Steele: Trump’s feud between Flake and others is personal, not political MORE (R-Ariz.), who is retiring after 2018, went after Moore during a Senate floor speech roughly an hour after the party’s lunch.

Flake echoed other’s criticism of Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice who has a penchant for making controversial comments. In 2006, for example, Moore suggested that Rep. Keith EllisonKeith Maurice EllisonFlake says he won’t back Roy Moore, citing Muslim remark DNC, Wasserman Schultz say they were unaware of dossier payments GOP seizes on new Clinton revelation MORE (D-Minn.), the first Muslim elected to the House, shouldn’t be allowed to serve.

“When a judge expressed his personal belief that a practicing Muslim should not be a member of Congress because of his religious faith, it was wrong. That this same judge is now my party’s nominee for the Senate from Alabama should concern us all,” Flake said.

Flake, who has said he will not support Moore, added that “religious tests have no place in the United States Congress. Standing up for people of faith, whether Muslim or Catholic, who are facing unfair prejudice should be an act of basic conscience that should be expected of all of us, regardless of party.”

Moore’s stop by the GOP lunch put Republicans in an awkward position of facing questions about Moore while they simultaneously tried to criticize Democrats for questioning the nomination of Amy Barrett, a nominee for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, because of her religious beliefs.

Ellison, weighing in on the judicial vote, questioned if Republicans “know they’ve stood by a Senate candidate who thinks I shouldn’t be able to serve in Congress, simply because of my faith?”

And Senate Democrats quickly seized on Moore’s lunch attendance, with Sen. Brian SchatzBrian Emanuel SchatzDems to introduce bill barring Trump from preemptive strikes without Congress approval Overnight Health Care: Judge won’t force Trump to make ObamaCare payments | CBO says bipartisan health bill would reduce deficit by B | Trump won’t set ObamaCare sign-up goal The Hill’s 12:30 Report MORE (D-Hawaii) calling Moore a “true moral danger.” 

Pressed how they squared their criticism of Democrats with their support for Moore given his previous comments, Sen. John CornynJohn CornynAdvocates pan Trump effort on opioid crisis Dallas Morning News: Cornyn ‘betrays’ GOP by backing Roy Moore Overnight Finance: House adopts Senate budget, taking step to tax reform | GOP worries Trump feuds will endanger tax plan | Trump talks NAFTA withdrawal with senators | Treasury calls for looser oversight of insurers MORE (R-Texas) noted this was one issue where most Senate Republicans would disagree with the candidate.

“I think just because you’re a member of a political party doesn’t mean you agree 100 percent,” Cornyn, who endorsed Moore last week, told reporters. “So I would disagree with that statement and I dare say if you asked each one of the members up here, what they would feel about that, they would say the same thing.”

Sen. Orrin HatchOrrin Grant HatchOvernight Cybersecurity: Lawmakers grill Trump officials over Kaspersky threat | Trump camp distances itself from data firm | What we know about Bad Rabbit | Conservative groups back data privacy bill Right-leaning groups back international data privacy bill Overnight Health Care: Bipartisan health plan faces new challenge from conservatives MORE (R-Utah) noted that he would support Moore as the GOP candidate and that he was a “nice guy.”

But pressed about his comments on homosexuals and Muslims serving in Congress, Hatch laughed before adding: “Well I have trouble with those [comments].”

Moore appeared to walk back some of his previous remarks on Tuesday, arguing that a “religious test” was unconstitutional.

“There should be no religious test, no. That’s against the Constitution,” Moore told reporters as he walked through the Senate basement.

He also took shot at the media, noting The Washington Post endorsed his opponent and arguing that national reporters portrayed him inaccurately.

“Well I’m a lot different than what The Washington Post has been printing,” Moore told reporters. “I don’t hate people.”

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