Congratulations Gina McCarthy, Our New U.S. EPA Administrator
Senators Kaine and Warner voted for the environment and public health
Environment Virginia Research & Policy Center
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate today confirmed Gina McCarthy as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner voted to confirm Ms. McCarthy. The confirmation came just weeks after President Obama instructed EPA to cut carbon pollution from power plants as part of his plan to fight global warming. Sarah Frost with Environment Virginia issued the following statement in response:
“Gina McCarthy’s confirmation is long-awaited good news for the planet and for the health of all Virginians.
“Ms. McCarthy’s stellar work under both Republican and Democratic governors, coupled with her track record at EPA, proves that when it comes to protecting our families’ health and environment, it isn’t about for which party you work for. It’s about getting the job done.
“Over the past four years, Ms. McCarthy’s work with a variety of stakeholders has been integral to the success of several historic initiatives, including new federal clean car standards that represent the biggest step the U.S. has ever taken to get off oil and tackle global warming; the first-ever federal limits on mercury pollution from power plants; and the first-ever proposed federal limits on carbon pollution from new power plants.
“I am confident that Ms. McCarthy will continue to put her professionalism and commitment to work developing solutions to the formidable environmental challenges we still face.
“There is much that remains to be done. In the next three years, we’re counting on EPA to finalize carbon limits for new and existing power plants— the largest sources of global warming pollution— as outlined in President Obama’s recently announced Climate Action Plan. In addition, EPA must secure protections for all our waterways, by ensuring safe drinking water for 117 million Americans and limiting pollution from development and factory farms. EPA must deal with the tremendous health and environmental threats from fracking and move ahead with other much-needed environmental initiatives.
“I thank Senators Kaine and Warner for voting to confirm Gina McCarthy’s appointment. Environment Virginia looks forward to working with EPA and its new chief to address our most pressing environmental challenges.”
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Environment Virginia is a statewide, citizen-based, environmental advocacy organization working for clean air, clean water, and open space in Virginia.