EPW Blog

Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urges FWS to Make ‘Not-Warranted’ Decision on Lesser Prairie Chicken

"There are many similarities between Lesser Prairie-Chicken conservation efforts and the successful efforts that led to a not-warranted decision for the Sand Dune Lizard." Link to Letter Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today sent a letter to Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Dan Ashe urging FWS not to list the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LPC) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) because the circumstances surrounding the species are very similar to those which led to the Sand Dune Lizard not having to be listed. The letter was signed by the entire Oklahoma delegation including Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), Representative James Lankford (R-OK), Representative Tom Cole (R-OK), Representative John Sullivan (R-OK), Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Representative Dan Boren (D-OK), along with members representing the following States: Texas - Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Representative Blake Farenthold (R-TX), Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), Representative Michael Conaway (R-TX), Representative Francisco "Quico" Canseco (R-TX) and Representative Randy Neugebauer (R-TX); Kansas - Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Representative Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) and Representative Mike Pompeo (R-KS); New Mexico - Representative Stevan Pearce (R-NM); and Colorado - Representative Corey Gardner (R-CO).

Inhofe Speech: Cooling Down the Rhetoric on Recent Global Warming Coverage

Mr. President, today I would like to help provide a sense of balance and accuracy which is clearly lacking in the mainstream media's attempt to drum up global warming hysteria due to the recent weather events across the country.

EPA’s crucifixion expert lands a new job

Washington Examiner Ron Arnold Link to Column Link to Inhofe EPW Press Blog Alfredo Armendariz was director of the Environmental Protection Agency's Region 6 -- Texas and four surrounding states -- when Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., unveiled a 2010 video of him saying his policy was analogous to ancient Romans overtaking villages: They would crucify the first five men they saw as an example to potential lawbreakers.

Senators Boxer and Inhofe Applaud Final Passage of Bipartisan Landmark Transportation Bill

Washington, D.C. -- Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member, issued the following statement today after the Senate voted 74 to 19 to pass the bipartisan House-Senate transportation conference report, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21). This legislation provides $105 billion for the nation's surface transportation programs over two years, and it continues the current level of funding plus inflation through FY 2014. The House passed the measure earlier today with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 373 to 52. The legislative package, which also includes provisions related to student loans and flood insurance, will now go to the President to be signed into law.

NRC IG Report Serves as Vindication for Four “Courageous” NRC Commissioners

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of Inspector General released a report requested by Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which confirms that as Chairman of the NRC, Gregory Jaczko was undermining the collegial function of the Commission by using "intimidating and bullying tactics" to push his own objectives, and that his testimony before Congress in December 2011 was "inconsistent, in five areas, with testimony provided to OIG by NRC senior officials." Senator Inhofe said that the report is vindication for the four Commissioners who had the courage to come forward to try to resolve the problem of Mr. Jaczko's abuse of his power. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), David Vitter (R-LA), and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) joined Senator Inhofe in requesting today's NRC IG report. Before the release of the report, Mr. Jaczko announced that he would resign upon confirmation of his successor.

‘Big Win’ for Obama-EPA a Huge Loss for the Heartland

Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, commented on today's Federal Court ruling on the Obama Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) greenhouse gas regulations.

EPA Adjusts Rules for Cement Kilns after Courts Rein in the Agency’s Overreaching Agenda

Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, responded to today's announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will reduce the regulatory burden on Portland cement makers and delay the compliance deadline for two years, saying that this is the latest in a long list of Agency actions that have had to be reined in because EPA exceeded its authority. This announcement follows a federal court ruling last December that halted a part of the 2010 Portland Cement rule, sending EPA back to revise particulate matter emissions limits for existing and new kilns.

Inhofe Vows to Keep Fighting to Hold EPA Accountable

Washington, DC - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today said following the Senate vote on SJR 37 that the effort behind his resolution provided the opportunity for those who will be most severely impacted by the Obama-EPA's war on coal to have their voices heard in the Senate - and to see which Senators are listening. Senator Inhofe added that as the Senate debated his resolution over the past few months, EPA's radical agenda was thoroughly exposed, and he vowed that he will continue fighting to put a stop to President Obama's war on oil, natural gas, and coal. Senator Inhofe's resolution would have prevented the Obama-EPA from implementing its Utility MACT rule - one of the most expensive regulations in history - and sent EPA back to the drawing board to craft a more workable rule. Today 46 Senators voted in favor of the measure. Today 46 Senators voted in favor of the measure; it needed 50 votes to pass.

Inhofe Welcomes Testimony from Oklahoman Darren Smith on Hydraulic Fracturing Before EPW Committee

Washington, D.C.- Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today welcomed Darren Smith, Environmental Manager at Devon Energy Corporation, before the EPW Committee to discuss EPA's new air rules for natural gas wells that are hydraulically fractured. Mr. Smith is the second Oklahoman to testify before the EPW Committee on natural gas issues. Last year, Senator Inhofe was pleased to welcome Jeff Cloud, Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, before the EPW Committee.

Inhofe CNN Op-Ed: Obama-EPA Mercury rule at center of the war on coal

By James Inhofe, Special to CNN June 19, 2012 Link to Op-Ed (CNN) -- On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate will have the opportunity to put a stop to one of the most expensive Environmental Protection Agency rules in history: the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards rule. This is the centerpiece of President Obama's war on coal.

Senate Republicans Request EPA IG Investigation

Link to Letter Washington, D.C. - Today, all the Senate Republicans from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 states sent a letter to the Inspector General's office of the EPA requesting an investigation to determine if proper protocols and procedures were followed by EPA Headquarters and Region 6 surrounding their issuance and subsequent withdrawal of a December 2010 administrative order in Parker County, Texas.

WATCH: Inhofe Responds to President Obama’s Threat to Veto Resolution to Stop Utility MACT

Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, spoke on the Senate floor this evening ahead of the vote on his resolution to stop the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Utility MACT rule. Senator Inhofe urged his colleagues to join him in his effort to put an end to President Obama's war on coal just after President Obama announced that he would veto the measure if it were to pass. The vote on Senator Inhofe's resolution will likely take place this Wednesday, June 20.

Senate Doctors: Utility MACT Kills Jobs, Increases Health Risks

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators and Doctors John Barrasso, M.D. (R-WY), Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), Rand Paul, M.D. (R-KY) and John Boozman, O.D. (R-AR) wrote President Obama outlining the negative health impacts of high unemployment.In their letter, the Senators and Doctors call on President Obama to stop pushing expensive Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, like Utility MACT, that put Americans out of work and into the doctor's office. They also call on federal agencies to include negative health impacts of unemployment into the cost/benefit analysis of regulations.

Obama Admits “I Was the Deciding Vote” in 2005 Against Bill To Reduce Mercury Emissions by 70%

Learn More about Far Left Environmental Playbook on CRA Vote As we look ahead to the vote on Senator Inhofe's resolution on EPA's Utility MACT rule, we can all agree that everyone shares a commitment to improving air quality - but it should be donein a way that does not harm jobs and the economy, or cause electricity prices to skyrocket on every American. One look at this video and it's clear that the effort behind Utility MACT is not about public health - if it were, then-Senator Obama and the Democrats would have voted for a 70% reduction in mercury when Senator Inhofe's Clear Skies bill came up in 2005. Had they supported Clear Skies, we would already have achieved substantial mercury reductions - instead, they rejected these health benefits in favor of promoting their radical global warming agenda.

Obama-EPA Agenda Continues To Cripple US Economy

Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today warned that the Obama-EPA's proposed tightening of environmental standards is the latest in a long line of EPA actions that fails to balance economic concerns with protecting health and the environment. The EPA announced a proposal today that would further tighten the Particulate Matter NAAQS standard from 15 micrograms per cubic meter of air to between 12 and 13 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

Inhofe Introduces Amendments to Farm Bill that Rein in EPA

Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, this week introduced a number of amendments to the Farm bill which rein in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulatory burden that is harming farmers and rural communities across America.

FWS Announces Sand Dune Lizard Will Not be Listed under ESA

Today, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) made the announcement that it will not list the Sand Dune Lizard under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, spoke today with Fish and Wildlife Director Dan Ashe who informed him that the listing of the Sand Dune Lizard ultimately was not necessary due to the tremendous voluntary efforts by local, state and private landowners to preserve the species. Senator Inhofe applauded the decision and said that it bodes well for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken decision, as Oklahoma's voluntary efforts are producing the same successful results.

Bipartisan Support Growing For Effort to Stop Obama War on Coal

Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, spoke on the Senate floor today about the growing bipartisan momentum to stop the Obama-Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) war on coal. Senator Inhofe welcomed the strong support of groups representing business and labor, as well as a growing number of elected officials working across the aisle to save coal.

EPA Official Felled by ‘Crucify’ Comment Dodges House Hearing, Meets at Sierra Club

Link to Story It's not clear why Al Armendariz, recently removed from a top post at the Environmental Protection Agency for saying that the government should "crucify" bad actors in the energy industry, abruptly canceled plans to testify before a House panel on Wednesday.

Video Shines Light on Obama-EPA Green “Way of Life” Agenda

In preparation for Obama-EPA Regional Administrator Al Armendariz's testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Wednesday, Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, released his latest video showcasing a number of Obama EPA Regional Administrators longing to impose a green "way of life act" on Americans through the regulatory regime of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).