EXPERT BLOG BECKY HAMMER

Craft Brewers Urge Senators to

Vote Against Pruitt
February 15, 2017
Becky Hammer

Today a group of 32 craft brewers sent a letter to the U.S. Senate asking members
to vote against Scott Pruitts nomination to lead the Environmental Protection
Agency. These brewers, who are partners in NRDC's Brewers for Clean Water
campaign, are standing up for the clean water protections that are so important to
their businessesprotections that Mr. Pruitt has pledged to weaken or eliminate.

Heres what they said:

Dear Senators:

Please vote against the confirmation of Scott Pruitt as Administrator

of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Pruitts record of
attacking clean water protections shows that he is the wrong choice to
lead the agency.

Our breweries cannot operate without reliable, clean water supplies.

Together, our businesses employ hundreds of people, and our beers
are shipped across the country. We need an EPA administrator who
will adopt and enforce policies that protect the water sources we use
to make our great-tasting beer. Mr. Pruitts actions as Oklahoma
Attorney General, however, demonstrate a history of attacking and
undermining the protections on which we depend.

Mr. Pruitt has challenged virtually every important EPA safeguard in

recent years, often falsely accusing the agency of overstepping its
authority. We need an EPA administrator who will enforce our laws to
protect our resources and our communities, not someone who tries to
weaken safeguards on behalf of polluters.

Beer is about 90 percent water, making local water supply quality and
its characteristics, such as pH and mineral content, critical to beer
brewing and the flavor of many classic brews. Changes to our water
supply whether we draw directly from a water source or from a
municipal supply threaten our ability to consistently produce our
great-tasting beer, and thus, our bottom line.

Protecting clean water is central to our business and our long-term

success. Not only does the great-tasting beer we brew depend on it,
but so do the communities in which we operate. Mr. Pruitt cannot be
trusted to protect Americas water resources. We hope that we can
count on you to oppose his confirmation to head EPA.

Sincerely,

Allagash Brewing Company (Maine)

Andersonville Brewing Co. (Illinois)
Bang Brewing (Minnesota)
Bar Hygge/Brewery Techne (Pennsylvania)
Blue Mountain Brewery/Blue Mountain Barrel House (Virginia)
Brewery Vivant (Michigan)
Brooklyn Brewery (New York)
Center of the Universe Brewing Company (Virginia)
Earth Bread + Brewery (Pennsylvania)
Engrained Brewing Company (Illinois)
Flying Mouse Brewery (Virginia)
Garden Grove Brewing Company (Virginia)
Goose Island Beer Co. (Illinois)
Greenstar Organic Brewery (Illinois)
Half Acre Beer Company (Illinois)
Hops & Grain Brewing (Texas)
Horse & Dragon Brewing Company (Colorado)
KelSo Beer Company (New York)
Lakefront Brewery (Wisconsin)
Maine Beer Company (Maine)
New Belgium Brewing Company (Colorado)
Oak Park Brewing Company (Colorado)
Right Brain Brewery (Michigan)
Rising Tide Brewing Company (Maine)
Saint Benjamin Brewing Company (Pennsylvania)
Smuttynose Brewing Company (New Hampshire)
South Street Brewery (Virginia)
Starr Hill Brewery (Virginia)
Temperance Beer Co. (Illinois)
Two Brothers Brewing Company (Illinois)
Wild Wolf Brewing Company (Virginia)
A copy of the actual letter sent to the Senate is posted here.

Of course, the threat Mr. Pruitt poses to great beer isnt the only reason to oppose
his nomination. Keep reading for more information about his long anti-
environmental record:

Scott Pruitt Is the Worst Candidate Ever Nominated to Lead the EPA

Scott Pruitts Repeated Attacks on Americans Water Resources

Scott Pruitt Wants to Take Us Back to the 50s

If you want to join these craft brewers in urging your Senators to vote against Scott
Pruitt, call their oces or use NRDCs online tool to email them now!

Tell your senators to reject Scott Pruitt, President

Trump's unqualified EPA nominee!