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While that’s flattering, I am not thinking about it, no, i could have put my hat in the ring for the administrator. I wasn’t interested in that. I am still not interested in that. Trump said Wheeler would assume duties as acting administrator of the EPA on July 9. I have no doubt that Andy will continue on with our great and lasting EPA agenda. We have made tremendous progress and the future of the EPA is very bright! Trump tweeted on July 5. Here are 3 things you need to know about the interim EPA chief before he officially changes roles. A former coal industry lobbyist, Wheeler helped lead an industry fight against regulations aimed at protecting Americans' health and addressing climate change. Many in the industry argued that the regulations would stifle business. Throughout his decades-long career, Wheeler has reportedly lobbied for at least 20 different companies, includingSargento Foods Inc., Whirlpool Corporation, and Xcel Energy, among others. During his time as a lobbyist, Wheelerworked alongside Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to reduce the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah by 85 percent and reserve a piece of the land for uranium mining, Fortune Magazine reported. In recent years, Wheeler has lobbied for Energy Fuels Resources Inc. and Murray Energy Corporation, which is run by longtime Trump supporter Robert Murray, who spent roughly $300,000 on the president's inauguration, according toThe New York Times. Wheeler worked for the EPA in the early 1990s, focusing on chemicals and toxic substance-related issues during the Bush and Clinton administrations. He later transitioned into the role of staff chief of the Senate Environment Committee andserved as counsel to Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla. Wheeler joined the international law firmFaegre Baker Daniels after his stint at the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. During his time at the firm, he helped counsel a variety of clients on comprehensive legislative, regulatory and operational strategies, the firm states on its website. He worked on every major piece of environmental and energy-related legislation before Congress over the span of a decade, ProPublica reported.