EPA/TRUMP PEOPLE/SCOTT PRUITT: “U.S. Democratic lawmakers asked Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt on Wednesday [6-21-17] to disclose procedures to prevent billionaire Carl Icahn from influencing U.S. biofuels policy for personal gain.
The letter is the latest in a string of missives from Democrats concerned about Icahn’s dual role as a special adviser to President Donald Trump on regulation and as a major investor in heavily regulated industries.
Icahn has an 82 percent stake in oil refiner CVR Energy Inc. He has also recommended the White House change the biofuels program that would reduce costs to CVR and other refining companies.
‘Recent reports about Mr. Icahn’s actions with respect to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program have raised significant ethical and legal concerns given his oil refinery business interests,’ the letter read.
Signing the letter were Reps. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee; Bobby Rush of Illinois; Diana DeGette of Colorado; Paul Tonko of New York; and John Sarbanes of Maryland.
They called on Pruitt to respond by the end of the month with details about procedures in place at EPA to prevent Icahn from influencing policy for personal gain. The agency runs the Renewable Fuel Standard program, a regulation requiring increasing amounts of biofuels in the nation’s gasoline.”
-Valerie Volcovici, “Democratic lawmakers raise pressure on EPA over Icahn’s biofuels role,” Reuters, June 21, 2017 10:49am