WASHINGTON (AP) — The new acting chief of the Environmental Protection Agency defended his past lobbying work with the coal industry on Wednesday as he addressed agency employees roiled by months of ethics allegations against former administrator Scott Pruitt. Andrew Wheeler spoke to staffers for the first time since President Donald Trump announced Pruitt's resignation last Thursday. Like Pruitt and Trump, Wheeler has expressed many conservative political views on environmental issues, including on climate-changing fossil fuel emissions. Speaking in a wood-paneled hall at agency headquarters, Wheeler made no mention of the allegations that forced out Pruitt, including Pruitt's lavish spending on travel and security and his alleged misuse of office for personal gains. But Wheeler, who had served as Pruitt's chief deputy, said he understood the stress of top-level management changes.Read more on NewsOK.com