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BOMBSHELL: The EPA set a deadline of MONDAY for Oklahoma tribes to respond to Gov. Kevin Stitt's request for the EPA to give HIM control over environmental regulations on tribal lands.
@tihuachang has details in his exclusive report: https://tyt.com/stories/4vZLCHuQrYE4uKagy0oyMA/7yzOow5PLu5kOpyfovH5ET
@tihuachang has details in his exclusive report: https://tyt.com/stories/4vZLCHuQrYE4uKagy0oyMA/7yzOow5PLu5kOpyfovH5ET
Ti-Hua previously reported that Stitt had quietly made the request to the EPA after the Supreme Court gave the tribes sovereignty over eastern Oklahoma.
Now, we have Stitt's letter ... and it goes farther than anyone knew.
Now, we have Stitt's letter ... and it goes farther than anyone knew.
A former EPA official told us that Stitt's request included language that would let the state permit fracking...
...and the dumping of mercury, PCBs and other hazardous waste on tribal lands...
...throughout the ENTIRE state.
...and the dumping of mercury, PCBs and other hazardous waste on tribal lands...
...throughout the ENTIRE state.
The EPA hasn't yet told us what outreach they did to let tribes know about Monday's deadline.
But in an earlier statement told us they're in consultations with tribes "that asked to meet."
Here's the hitch...
But in an earlier statement told us they're in consultations with tribes "that asked to meet."
Here's the hitch...
We don't know which tribes, if any, even KNEW about Stitt's request.
But at least one tribe told us they did NOT.
But at least one tribe told us they did NOT.
Who DID Stitt tell?
Big Agriculture and Big Oil.
Ti-Hua first revealed Stitt's request late last month... thanks to audio of Stitt posted online by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. https://tyt.com/stories/4vZLCHuQrYE4uKagy0oyMA/48MFWZV1NIvr5yGCZWo7Ao
Big Agriculture and Big Oil.
Ti-Hua first revealed Stitt's request late last month... thanks to audio of Stitt posted online by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. https://tyt.com/stories/4vZLCHuQrYE4uKagy0oyMA/48MFWZV1NIvr5yGCZWo7Ao
Now it turns out that Big Oil knew even earlier than that.
On July 22--the same day Stitt WROTE his letter--the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma got a copy of it and posted it online.
They loved it. https://www.thepetroleumalliance.com/petroleum-alliance-praises-stitts-move-to-ensure-state-regulatory-primacy/
On July 22--the same day Stitt WROTE his letter--the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma got a copy of it and posted it online.
They loved it. https://www.thepetroleumalliance.com/petroleum-alliance-praises-stitts-move-to-ensure-state-regulatory-primacy/
Now, it's possible some tribes knew about this deadline...
...IF Stitt told them about his request to the EPA...
...and IF the tribes knew that they had the option of weighing in.
But Stitt's request and the EPA's deadline never appear to have been made public.
...IF Stitt told them about his request to the EPA...
...and IF the tribes knew that they had the option of weighing in.
But Stitt's request and the EPA's deadline never appear to have been made public.
Which means now anyone who wants to object to the tribes losing environmental regulatory sovereignty...
...has only three days to make their case to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler...
...who worked for Inhofe for 14 years.
...has only three days to make their case to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler...
...who worked for Inhofe for 14 years.
Prior to publication, we shared details of Stitt's letter with tribal and environmental groups, including @350.
Here are the responses we got.
Here are the responses we got.
UPDATE: NRDC senior attorney responds to @tihuachang's story, Tweeting that when Wheeler worked for Inhofe...
...he actually HELPED Inhofe with the midnight rider that made Stitt's request possible. https://twitter.com/JohnDWalke/status/1307044453102882818?s=20
...he actually HELPED Inhofe with the midnight rider that made Stitt's request possible. https://twitter.com/JohnDWalke/status/1307044453102882818?s=20
EPA has responded. We expect to update our story tonight and will post when it's up.
Here's our update.
EPA says the deadline was posted on an EPA site for tribal consultations and that notifications were sent.
The Ponca tribe was as of tonight checking its emails but had not yet located it...
EPA says the deadline was posted on an EPA site for tribal consultations and that notifications were sent.
The Ponca tribe was as of tonight checking its emails but had not yet located it...
The tribes were apparently first notified Aug. 25.
As we reported, state business leaders knew at least as early as July 22.
The EPA has not said why it never announced the deadline to the general public.
As we reported, state business leaders knew at least as early as July 22.
The EPA has not said why it never announced the deadline to the general public.
