WASHINGTON – Congressman Rick Crawford announced today that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region VI Administrator Al Armendariz is resigning. Armendariz is stepping down after a 2010 video revealed his comments endorsing a “general philosophy” by EPA to “crucify” and “make examples” of oil and gas companies.

“Oil and gas companies need reasonable regulations and oversights to ensure responsible drilling practices are followed. We do not need activists at the EPA who have a clear bias against domestic energy producers,” Crawford said. “Mr. Armendariz was right to resign his position. In a time when gas prices are close to $4 a gallon we need professionals at the EPA who encourage, not stifle, responsible domestic energy production.”

Before resigning, Armendariz was head of EPA Region 6 that encompassed Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and 66 tribal nations. Mr. Armendariz caused a controversy after saying in 2010: 

“The Romans used to conquer little villages in the Mediterranean. They’d go into a little Turkish town somewhere, they’d find the first five guys they saw and they would crucify them. And then you know that town was really easy to manage for the next few years.”