Schneider, Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Leadership Changes at U.S. EPA

Today, Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the below statement following the announcement that Assistant Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Air and Radiation Bill Wehrum is resigning:

"Assistant Administrator Bill Wehrum's disappointing tenure at the U.S. EPA was marked by initiatives to undercut progress preventing climate change and dole out favors on the fossil fuel industry. In Lake County, we remain frustrated that U.S. EPA under his leadership inexplicably refused to conduct ambient air monitoring to measure levels of ethylene oxide, a known carcinogen, in our communities. It is critical that Mr. Wehrum's departure does not delay much-needed public health standards that are under development on ethylene oxide emissions, and in light of Wehrum's departure, we ask the U.S. EPA to release the proposed rule publicly without delay. Our constituents deserve real leadership from the U.S. EPA and we urge the agency to take swift action."