Lisa Jackson, the incoming US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, has identified her and President Obama's priorities for the EPA.
In an attempt to signal a change from the previous Administration Jackson states:
Jackson highlighted five priorities that would receive her personal attention:
1) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: EPA will stand ready to help Congress craft strong, science-based climate legislation that fulfills the vision of the President.
2) Improving air quality: EPA will plug the gaps in our regulatory system as science and the law demand.
3) Managing chemical risks: It is now time to revise and strengthen EPA's chemicals management and risk assessment programs, and reform TSCA.
4) Cleaning up hazardous-waste sites: EPA will strive to accelerate the pace of cleanup at the hundreds of contaminated sites across the country.
5) Protecting America's water: EPA will intensify work to restore and protect the quality of the nation's streams, rivers, lakes, bays, oceans and aquifers.
Jackson is expected to be confirmed and begin work as Administrator shortly. She states that "EPA's strength has always been our ability to adapt to the constantly changing face of environmental protection as our economy and society evolve and science teaches us more about how humans interact with andaffect the natural world. Now, more than ever, EPA must be innovative and forward looking because the environmental challenges faced by Americans all across our country are unprecedented."
In an attempt to signal a change from the previous Administration Jackson states:
"EPA can meet the nation's environmental challenges only if our employees are fully engaged partners in our shared mission. Science must be the backbone for EPA programs. The public health and environmental laws that Congress has enacted depend on rigorous adherence to the best available science. The President believes that when EPA addresses scientific issues, it should rely on the expert judgment of the Agency's career scientists and independent advisors. When scientific judgments are suppressed, misrepresented or distorted bypolitical agendas, Americans can lose faith in their government to provide strong public health and environmental protection. The laws that Congress has written and directed EPA to implement leaveroom for policy judgments. However, policy decisions should not be disguised as scientific findings. I pledge that I will not compromisethe integrity of EPA's experts in order to advance a preference for aparticular regulatory outcome."
Jackson highlighted five priorities that would receive her personal attention:
1) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: EPA will stand ready to help Congress craft strong, science-based climate legislation that fulfills the vision of the President.
2) Improving air quality: EPA will plug the gaps in our regulatory system as science and the law demand.
3) Managing chemical risks: It is now time to revise and strengthen EPA's chemicals management and risk assessment programs, and reform TSCA.
4) Cleaning up hazardous-waste sites: EPA will strive to accelerate the pace of cleanup at the hundreds of contaminated sites across the country.
5) Protecting America's water: EPA will intensify work to restore and protect the quality of the nation's streams, rivers, lakes, bays, oceans and aquifers.
Jackson is expected to be confirmed and begin work as Administrator shortly. She states that "EPA's strength has always been our ability to adapt to the constantly changing face of environmental protection as our economy and society evolve and science teaches us more about how humans interact with andaffect the natural world. Now, more than ever, EPA must be innovative and forward looking because the environmental challenges faced by Americans all across our country are unprecedented."
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