What you need to know about the EPA's Gina McCarthy

Things you might like to know about Gina McCarthy:

  1. She was nominated yesterday by President Obama to be the next administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, replacing New Jerseyan Lisa Jackson.
     
  2. She is 58, a Boston-area native (has the accent to prove it) and currently heads the EPA’s air and radiation office.

  3. Her nomination requires her to gain the approval of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee where the ranking Republican, David Vitter of Louisiana and senior Republican member John Barrasso of Wyoming are solid supporters of oil and gas and do not think kindly of the EPA.

  4. But some folks you’d expect to oppose her do not. Seven unlikely supporters

  5. She served as DEP Commissioner for former Republican Gov. Jodi Rell in Connecticut. During her tenure, she helped lay the groundwork for RGGI, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. (NJ Governor Chris Christie, are you listening?) 
       
  6. She also worked for Mitt Romney when he was the Republican governor of Massachusetts. There she  helped implement strict standards to reduce carbon and mercury pollution from power plants. That was before Romney ran for president and promised to abolish the EPA.
    (Gov. Christie: Don’t worry, Mitt says you’re not to blame for his loss. No kidding)

  7. She reportedly shoots a mean game of pool and has a wicked sense of humor.

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More on Gina McCarthy:
Gina McCarthy, EPA’s air chief, nominated to head agency – Washington Post
Gina McCarthy for EPA could be Obama’s most significant nominee 
Gina McCarthy is a fine choice to head the EPA. – Hartford Courant
Meet Obama’s EPA pick: Gina McCarthy | "Global Possibilities"
Gina McCarthy on the Fuel Economy Label -YouTube
Obama Names New Energy Secretary, EPA Director
Nomination sets stage for struggles on climate change

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Gina McCarthy to replace Lisa Jackson at the EPA


Gina McCarthy-Alex Brandon-AP
Alex Brandon/AP Photo

President Barack Obama today will nominate Gina McCarthy to be the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), replacing Lisa Jackson. McCarthy, who heads the EPA’s air and radiation office, helped usher through many of the EPA’s most contentious rules during Obama’s first term, including regulations curbing mercury and soot emissions from power plants. But, according to the Washington Post, she has also cultivated a strong working relationship with members of the business community, dampening much of the opposition her selection might otherwise have encountered. Here’s what news sources are reporting this morning:
Obama to name EPA official Gina McCarthy – Washington Post   |
Sources: EPA, Energy picks coming – Politico 
Gina McCarthy: Strong Climate Credentials Plus a Sense of Humor – Inside Climate News Our most recent posts:   
Kennedy called, Cuomo waited on fracking health study
For all you fans of the Alaskan polar bear 
Start your day with some Jersey/Pennsy politics  
Would NJ Highlands protection law pass if voted today?  
Americans set new record for solar cell efficiency  ***********************************************************************************************************For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment 
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Kennedy called, Cuomo waited on fracking health study

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo came as close as he ever has to approving fracking last month, laying out a limited drilling plan for as many as 40 gas wells before changing course to await the findings of a new study after discussions with environmentalist and former brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy Jr., several people familiar with his thinking told The Associated Press.

The turning point, which could delay a decision for up to a year or longer, came in a series of phone calls with Kennedy. The two discussed a new health study on the hydraulic fracturing drilling method that could be thorough enough to trump all others in a debate that has split New York for five years.

"I think the issue suddenly got simple for him," Kennedy told the AP. He paraphrased Cuomo in their discussions saying: "’If it’s causing health problems, I really don’t want it in New York state. And if it’s not causing health problems, we should figure out a way we can do it.’"

Read the full Associated Press story here.

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Kennedy called, Cuomo waited on fracking health study Read More »

For all you fans of the Alaskan polar bear

 
A federal appeals court today upheld Endangered Species Act protections for the polar bear, Reuters reports.

The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit means the bear will remain listed as threatened, the lower of two levels of federal protection.

That designation was originally challenged from two sides. Environmental groups said the bear should be listed as endangered, the highest level of protection, while industry and sporting groups and Alaska said it didn’t merit any protection.

For all you fans of the Alaskan polar bear Read More »

Start your day with some Jersey/Pennsy politics

 
 
 
 
 


New Jersey and Pennsylvania Politics Deconstructed

That’s the tagline for Marty Moss-Coane‘s Radio Times show this morning at 10.

Charles Stile, political columnist for The (Bergen) Record will take a look at NJ Gov. Chris Christie’s budget address that contained the surprise announcement that New Jersey will expand its Medicaid enrollment under the Affordable Health Care Act.

Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Baer and The Patriot-News‘s editorial writer
John Micek will dissect PA Gov. Tom Corbett’s dismal ratings and re-election challenges.

Should be fun.

If you miss the live broadcast, catch the recorded interview on the Radio Times website.

***********************************************************************************************************For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
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Would NJ Highlands protection law pass if voted today?

The regional rancor in northwest New Jersey that followed the enactment of the Highlands Protection Act in 2004 still smolders.and a single remark can spark a flareup.

Richard A. Vohden

Sussex County Deputy Freeholder Director Richard Vohden lit the match Wednesday night when, at a freeholder’s meeting, he asserted that, were the vote held today, state lawmakers would not approve the law that limits development in a 415, 000-acre area stretching over seven counties.    


“If these senators today would take the same vote, I don’t think it would pass,” he said.


Vohden characterized the Highlands Law as “unfunded, unworkable and incomplete,” writes New Jersey Herald reporter Rob Jennings.

Referring to the devaluing of property values for those unable to subdivide or sell due to the law, Vohden said, “If that’s not a ‘taking,’ I don’t know what a taking is.”

The remark brought a quick response from NJ Sierra Club director Jeff Tittel whose organization opposed Vohden’s nomination by Governor Chris Christie to the Highlands Council. Vohden took the seat in January 2012 after being confirmed by a 29-7 vote in the state Senate.


“He’s supposed to enforce the law. He’s showing his personal bias,” Tittel said.


What do you think?  Was the Highlands law a mistake?  Is it working? What does the future hold?Share your thoughts in the opinion box below. If one is not visible, activate it by clicking on the tiny ‘comments’ line.

Related environmental news stories and videos:

Highlands law wouldn’t pass today, Vohden says 
Highlands Council pushing program that would compensate landowners 
Caldwell Council Supports Highlands Watershed 
NJ Highlands Council Fires Exec Swan; Deputy Resigns 
NJ enviro groups’ billboard: Here’s looking at you, DEP
Assemblyman John McKeon discusses the environment


***********************************************************************************************************For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment  **********************************************************************************************************

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