Trump Appoints Major Chemical Industry Insider To Head USEPA Superfund Enforcement

In yet another move apparently intended to stifle federal enforcement of environmental protection laws, President Trump has appointed a lawyer from the world’s largest chemical company to serve as USEPA Assistant Administrator for Land and Emergency Management. Appointee Peter Wright has worked as a lawyer for Dow Chemical since 1999. Dow’s merger with DuPont last year created the world’s largest chemical manufacturer.

During his career at Dow, Wright opposed federal Superfund cleanup enforcement against the chemical giant. Dow donated $1 million to Trump’s campaign, and the newly merged companies are responsible parties for more than 100 superfund sites across the country. If confirmed, Wright will be in charge of USEPA responses to oil, chemical and radiation spills, as well as overseeing ongoing superfund cleanups.