The acting head of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Andrew Wheeler, has said that under his direction the agency will continue to try to reduce regulation while speeding up permitting processes, as it was under former head Scott Pruitt, who resigned earlier this month. Mr Wheeler has said in his first briefing to EPA staff that the agency should be able to pursue a two pronged approach, as requested by President Donald Trump: protecting air and water quality, and reducing regulation. The EPA this month sent a new rule for power plants to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget for review prior to it being released for public comment.