# Environmental Safety Bureau Chief Took Political Contributions From Industry He Now Regulates

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/03/environmental-safety-bureau-chief-took-political-contributions-from-industry-he-now-regulates/
- Published: 2018-03-22T23:44:20-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

**_BSEE Director Scott Angelle Now Regulates the Oil and Gas Companies That Showered
Him With Campaign Contributions_**

For Immediate Release:

March 22, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Many of the companies penalized by the U.S. Bureau of Safety 
and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) over the past five years have given political
contributions to current BSEE Director Scott Angelle, and at least five of those
companies have met with him since he took office in May 2017, according to a [new report](https://citizenvox.org/2018/03/22/regulating-hands-that-fed/)
by Public Citizen.

Prior to taking the helm at the BSEE, which was set up by the Obama administration
in response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, Angelle worked in Louisiana 
politics. During his campaign for the 3rd Congressional District, Angelle’s top 
contributing industry was [oil and gas](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/12/political-climate-shifting-against-the-oil-and-gas-industry/).
The industry donated $151,000 to his run for office. Public Citizen’s analysis, 
titled “[Regulating the Hands That Fed Him](https://www.citizen.org//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/migration/regulating_the_hands_that_fed_him.pdf),”
found that at least nine companies or associated executives that have paid BSEE 
a civil penalty over the past five years also have contributed to one of Angelle’s
campaigns.

![Money](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/giorgio-
trovato-WyxqQpyFNk8-unsplash.jpg?resize=280%2C420&quality=52&ssl=1 "giorgio-trovato-
WyxqQpyFNk8-unsplash - The Green Living Guy")

## Campaign contributions

These nine companies or individuals have contributed $142,750 directly to Angelle’s
campaigns in the past, Public Citizen found. And at least five of them already have
met with Angelle as BSEE director. Arena Energy, which contributed $15,000 to Angelle’s
previous campaigns, met with him for an hour on June 6, 2017. Arena Energy also 
has the most civil penalties over the five-year period. A Chevron executive also
met with Angelle for two hours on August 25, 2017. Chevron paid more than $840,000
in BSEE penalties and contributed $14,000 to Angelle’s campaigns.

Under Angelle, the BSEE plans to roll back or amend many Obama-era offshore drilling
safety regulations. Including loosening requirements on streaming real-time safety
data to the shore. In addition, they will remove a provision that requires third-
party inspection of safety devices. In September 2017, Angelle [told](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/business/offshore-drilling-trump-administration.html?nytmobile=0)
a group of oil and gas executives that “help is on the way, help is on the way.”

**_[Source: Public Citizen](https://web.archive.org/web/20190917095058/https://www.citizen.org/article/press-releases-about-nejm-study-comparing-costs-in-for-profit-and-nonprofit-hospitals/)_**

> _“As BSEE director, Angelle must prioritize safety over [oil and gas company](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/04/amazon-ecuador-oil-sold-third-to-chinese/)
> profits,” said Michael Tanglis, senior researcher for Public Citizen’s Congress
> Watch division and author of the report. _

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
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