A group of 58 current and former elected officials from New Mexico has expressed their opposition to Scott Pruitt's nomination as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The officials signed a letter urging their congressional delegation to reject Pruitt's nomination, citing his conflicts of interest and history of opposing environmental protections.

The letter highlights Pruitt's legal actions against the EPA, specifically targeting clean air and water standards that are crucial for the health of New Mexicans. "Mr. Pruitt has repeatedly sued the EPA to block clean air and clean water standards that protect the health and well-being of millions of New Mexicans," it states. The signatories argue that his career efforts contradict the mission of the agency he is nominated to lead.

David Coss, former mayor of Santa Fe and chair of the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change. “Climate disruption threatens civilization itself if we don’t act swiftly to prevent catastrophe,” Coss stated. He criticized Pruitt for allegedly spreading misinformation that hinders progress on environmental issues.

The letter also mentions that Pruitt attempted to overturn EPA safeguards designed to save lives and reduce asthma attacks annually. In addition, it notes New Mexico's reliance on EPA grants, which amounted to $36 million last year for various environmental initiatives in the state.

For those interested in reading more about this issue, further details can be found in an attachment containing the complete text of the letter.

The Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, with over 7,000 members in New Mexico, continues its mission to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.