EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has promised to end "sue-and-settle" suits that environmentalists bring to enforce missed statutory deadlines, but many observers say he may have to embrace the tactic or face the risk of courts imposing much shorter deadlines than what he would otherwise be able to negotiate. The practical realities of the overwhelming amount of work Congress assigned EPA to complete on tight deadlines may force a shift in Pruitt's thinking, sources say. "Ultimately, Pruitt is going to come to understand, even though he might hate sue-and-settle, that he will get worse deadlines by a judge and have no choice but to abide by them," one industry source says.
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