Regional EPA administrator could be named soon
July 21st, 2009 by cdunaganI hear that a new regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency could be named soon, and it could be a well-known name in Washington state.
This is one of those positions that every new president gets to fill with someone of his choosing, usually based on the advice of elected officials and community leaders. The EPA, of course, is the federal agency at the center of most major environmental issues. Region 10, based in Seattle, covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.
If I were a betting man, I’d put my money on Dennis McLerran as the next regional administrator. McLerran, the executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, has been frequently discussed. He recently told the Kitsap County commissioners that he has the support of both Washington senators.
I’ve heard that McLerran may not be the top choice of other Northwest members of Congress, however. State Sen. Phil Rockefeller, a Democrat from Bainbridge Island, may still have a shot at the post. His name was mentioned frequently earlier this year, and Rockefeller has generated a lot of support in the environmental community. By the way, Phil’s wife, Anita Frankel, was a longtime employee of the EPA. See Tristan Baurick’s story in the Kitsap Sun of March 28.
Other names being kicked around are John Ladenberg, former Pierce County executive who ran for attorney general, and William Chapman, a Seattle environmental lawyer.
Of course, it could be a wild card — someone that nobody expects.
If named, Rockefeller would not be the first regional administrator from Kitsap County. President Clinton named Chuck Clarke, a Bremerton native who came up through the Washington Department of Ecology.
Chuck told me that he was first called by Clinton folks in July or August of 2002, a few months after the new administration took over. But Clarke was not named until March of the following year.
Most people do not expect Obama to take that long.
After leaving the EPA, Chuck worked as deputy mayor of Seattle and director of Seattle Public Utilities. In January of this year, he was named CEO of Cascade Water Alliance, a consortium of eight municipalities and water districts supplying water to communities on the east side of Lake Washington.
So I asked Mr. Clarke what issues he believes the next EPA
regional administrator will face, and here’s what he told me:
The economy will be a big issue, he said.
“You are dealing with regulatory issues and businesses walking a fine line on survivability,” he said. “It is a challenge to find the right balance when you’re talking about regulations and environmental concerns.”
Another issue will be climate change, in which the agency will need to provide scientific information and advice to help people take steps to reduce climate change while preparing for ongoing changes in temperature and precipitation.
On another front, one must never forget about Puget Sound, he said.
“You can’t live anywhere and not think that Puget Sound is going to be an issue for this regional administrator,” Chuck said, adding that the EPA has a role to play in helping to shape and carry out the state’s Puget Sound restoration strategy. Stormwater, which is regulated by the agency, is probably the key to dealing with pollution in Western Washington, he said.
Last but not least, it will be important for the new administrator to develop a good relationship with elected officials, he said. Their support can make all the difference in carrying out the initiatives of the agency.
“In Congress, having a good relationship with those in decision-making roles is important,” he said. “If you know them and work well with them, you can explain the challenges you’re facing, and they can give you good advice.”
Tags: Chuck Clarke, Environmental Protection Agency, regional administrator
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Recent Comments