Environmental Protection Agency - Obama Presidency Oral History

...It was so aimed at agencies like EPA . The Koch brothers [Charles G. Koc...

...are in the ascendancy. They can't stand EPA . So you have this whol...

...1990, it's continued. Basically says, EPA shall regulate air pollution based o...

...point during the Carter administration, EPA actually lessened the ozone standard. ...

...law that the Supreme Court said: the EPA shall have to regulate greenhouse gas...

...I used to say to people when I was at EPA , “I'm not free to do anything. I wor...

...Clinton-Gore get elected. I go to run EPA . You have to be confirmed by th...

...Dingell do not want to see an active EPA . And I'm being thoroughly outspoken...

...been done prior to when I got to the EPA . It had been stuck in a drawer. I too...

...we had a proposal to change EPA from an agency into a department. An...

...pulled the plug. This whole idea that EPA was out of control, that EPA was doin...

...idea that EPA was out of control, that EPA was doing too much. I would always sa...

...to me, I would talk to and explain what EPA does, how it does it, why you want a...

...of the things we did while I was at EPA was, there was an environmental justic...

...think, one of the most important things EPA did in terms of protecting publi...

...that the granted authority to EPA to set these standards was a...

...name off, and they put the then–head of EPA 's name on—who had had nothing to d...

...you should probably change how EPA does this. And you should probabl...

...There's a long, long history now. The EPA has been at this for a very, very lon...

...accidentally gave you an idea for how EPA could regulate greenhouse gases. Ca...

...because there's a publication—not an EPA publication—called InsideEPA. It'...

...but some daily sheet of what's going on EPA , not published by EPA. EPA has nothin...

...what's going on EPA, not published by EPA . EPA has nothing to do it. So DeLa...

...going on EPA, not published by EPA. EPA has nothing to do it. So DeLay says...

...I said, “What paper?” He says, “Inside EPA .” I say, “Well, that's not us.” H...

...office. We leave it sitting there at EPA . And the state of Massachusetts find...

...way to the Supreme Court, arguing that EPA should be regulating greenhouse gases...

...of the memo, basically saying, “Yes, if EPA makes these scientific determinations...

...this endangerment thing. Whoever is at EPA is going to have to look at the scienc...

...Jackson, when she assumes her role at EPA , looks at all of this—the work had al...

...When I was the administrator at the EPA , my counterpart in Germany, th...

...but they had never completed it. The EPA staff was doing what they woul...

...law, and legal authority that sat at EPA under another law, and we created—w...

...I would say my experience at EPA was much more important, where we ha...

...is, they invited me back after I left EPA . They said, “You should come back an...

...was dealing with industry—I mean, even EPA was very—when I first got there, w...

...that to me.” In the '90s when you were EPA [crosstalk]—? At EPA. Yes, it wa...

...when you were EPA [crosstalk]—? At EPA . Yes, it was early at EPA. Thanks fo...

...At EPA. Yes, it was early at EPA . Thanks for discussing that. Th...

...felt like—you know, I was picked to run EPA in '93. I was very young. And I learne...

...Massachusetts filed the lawsuit against EPA , they argued that their primary sourc...

...regulate car pollution outside of what EPA does. And thirteen states have joine...

...Mary Nichols, we had worked together at EPA setting the ozone and fine particle...

...propose a carbon tax, and they wipe out EPA authority to regulate. A carbon ta...

...ratcheting it up. You can also keep the EPA regulatory authority as a backstop. S...

...you're not getting the reductions, then EPA would step in and set the regulations...

...all the carbon-tax proposals wipe out EPA authority, I have not been a supporte...

...the environment minister and I was at EPA , was, “You guys want to use thi...

...issues. I used to joke, when I was at EPA , long before Obama, rarely was th...

...that the federal government, the EPA , can grant day-to-day regulator...

...will not exercise it properly, so EPA has to step in with its federa...

...it's a good division of labor, because EPA has a certain set of skills, and it ca...

...have the science capabilities that EPA had. We simply didn't. We didn't hav...

...us on new technologies. When I was at EPA , I think our lab in Ann Arbor...

...the expense. They left it sitting. So EPA — [laughs] I think it's still tru...

...it's not, but certainly while I was at EPA —was doing the day-to-day work fo...

...The power is granted by Congress to EPA , and then the Congress says to EPA...

...to EPA, and then the Congress says to EPA , “You can delegate certain of thes...

...these powers to a state agency.” Then EPA does an analysis to determine whethe...

...of fine particles. So you don't—the EPA holds onto the big science decision...

...states as we think of them, most of EPA statutes also allow EPA to delegate t...

...them, most of EPA statutes also allow EPA to delegate to tribes that have set u...

...But we did, in fact, when I was at EPA , start the process of actuall...

...Project XL. That was actually at EPA . Project XL was at EPA. But it wa...

...was actually at EPA. Project XL was at EPA . But it was informed by an experienc...

...restoration. So when I got to EPA , I realized there were ways to wor...

...make a decision as a regulator at the EPA , you've made a lot of people unhappy...

...There's also then the memo we left at EPA , which forms the basis of th...

...forms the basis of the Massachusetts v. EPA , which forms the basis of the Suprem...

...of the Supreme Court decision saying EPA can regulate greenhouse gases, or shal...

...regulatory agencies, and specifically EPA . That is in large part, we understan...

...brothers, who were regulated by the EPA . Someone has written a book recentl...

...with America was a full-on attack of EPA . They had ten horror stories abou...

...EPA. They had ten horror stories about EPA . That, in my experience, is a ver...

...the smog, the soot, etc. Now the EPA was starting to work on more comple...

...fervor. I think that what it causes EPA to have to do and the Clinto...

...of negatives about the nanny state, EPA is out of control. One of the thing...

...and there's a bill to try and make EPA the Department of Environmenta...

...you see happening under Trump at the EPA comes right out of that initial attac...

...have direct authority when I was at EPA over this—but says, “Oh, we're going t...

...with the industry. I think that what EPA has done around cars is a good example...

...has done around cars is a good example. EPA has been funded to establish a la...

...the car industry and come to work for EPA in this lab to develop new solutions...

...organic compounds, into the air. EPA has really been an important part o...

...all of the industries. Also remember, EPA has a very different role in regulatin...

...of Interior. In my experience, EPA is a regulatory agency first an...

...a very different mindset. It's funny. EPA has some parts of it that are no...

...rest of the agency. So, for example, EPA licensed pesticides. That's not ...

...were. And that's just something the EPA would know. Right? Because that's wha...

...would know. Right? Because that's what EPA does. I should be clear. There ar...

...clear. There are some permits issued by EPA for these drilling rigs because the...

...exactly a science. So, when [laughs] EPA gets created by Richard Nixon, at on...

...authority on fuel efficiency and the EPA authority on tailpipe and greenhous...

...all get locked—I did it when I was at EPA . You get locked into what you...

...possibility internationally? You had EPA working on power plants. You had th...

...books for eight years, six years. At EPA , they're going back even further. I...

...don't want Congress to do it. They want EPA to do it. Because there's a proces...

...you this example, but when I got to EPA —did we talk about drinking water an...

...a Democratic Congress—gets mad at the EPA for not regulating drinking wate...

...the law—a list of pollutants that EPA shall regulate. So, I get to EPA...

...that EPA shall regulate. So, I get to EPA . We're going down the list, right? ...

...is not on the list that Congress handed EPA . That was a static list based on th...

...drinking water. They said, you know, “ EPA shall have this list. They shall se...

...out there and say, “Yes, we're meeting EPA standards. We're doing what we'r...

...are some who will say, “We hate the EPA . We don't know why we should have t...

...the authority was to— It came from EPA . You know, I don't remember what la...

...I don't remember. But yes, it was EPA 's decision. It was obviously one tha...

...May of 2010, for the first time, EPA announces emissions thresholds fo...

...part of what was happening was, EPA was going through all of the steps. An...

...about Congress. In 1994, when you're EPA administrator in the Clinto...

...did in the White House. I didn't, at EPA . Because again, at EPA, you're no...

...I didn't, at EPA. Because again, at EPA , you're not really engaged as much i...

...was even true in my experience at the EPA . At the end of the day, I had to b...

...permit] and then also directed the EPA to postpone implementing ne...

...Air Quality Standards when I was at EPA , ozone and fine particles. And I wa...

...We did a lot of work when I was at EPA on this. I set up the NEJAC [Nationa...

...sorry. I'm sorry. Right. When I'm at EPA , we set up the National Environmenta...

...this. So we were working, when I was at EPA , with the Justice Department to tr...

...been a presidential memorandum—telling EPA and the Department of Transportation t...

...then had that experience, and came to EPA . So understanding that—it's hard t...

...In fact—I think maybe I was still at EPA , though. At one point, I went to mee...

... We tried very hard when I was at EPA to explain part of—we're th...

...one more time—you had said, “I once ran EPA , and I've seen this movie before. Yo...

...organizing. Even when I was at EPA [Environmental Protection Agency]...

...organizing. Even when I was at EPA [ Environmental Protection Agency ], people would come to me about a...

...had some very dark days when I was at EPA . We were shut down by Newt Gingric...

...environment, and then, obviously, the EPA . Yes. I think that a good exampl...

...I was working for President Clinton at EPA . It was a good ten-year undertaking...

...It was so aimed at agencies like EPA . The Koch brothers [Charles G. Koc...

...are in the ascendancy. They can't stand EPA . So you have this whol...

...1990, it's continued. Basically says, EPA shall regulate air pollution based o...

...point during the Carter administration, EPA actually lessened the ozone standard. ...

...law that the Supreme Court said: the EPA shall have to regulate greenhouse gas...

...I used to say to people when I was at EPA , “I'm not free to do anything. I wor...

...Clinton-Gore get elected. I go to run EPA . You have to be confirmed by th...

...Dingell do not want to see an active EPA . And I'm being thoroughly outspoken...

...been done prior to when I got to the EPA . It had been stuck in a drawer. I too...

...we had a proposal to change EPA from an agency into a department. An...

...pulled the plug. This whole idea that EPA was out of control, that EPA was doin...

...idea that EPA was out of control, that EPA was doing too much. I would always sa...

...to me, I would talk to and explain what EPA does, how it does it, why you want a...

...of the things we did while I was at EPA was, there was an environmental justic...

...think, one of the most important things EPA did in terms of protecting publi...

...that the granted authority to EPA to set these standards was a...

...name off, and they put the then–head of EPA 's name on—who had had nothing to d...

...you should probably change how EPA does this. And you should probabl...

...There's a long, long history now. The EPA has been at this for a very, very lon...

...accidentally gave you an idea for how EPA could regulate greenhouse gases. Ca...

...because there's a publication—not an EPA publication—called InsideEPA. It'...

...but some daily sheet of what's going on EPA , not published by EPA. EPA has nothin...

...what's going on EPA, not published by EPA . EPA has nothing to do it. So DeLa...

...going on EPA, not published by EPA. EPA has nothing to do it. So DeLay says...

...I said, “What paper?” He says, “Inside EPA .” I say, “Well, that's not us.” H...

...office. We leave it sitting there at EPA . And the state of Massachusetts find...

...way to the Supreme Court, arguing that EPA should be regulating greenhouse gases...

...of the memo, basically saying, “Yes, if EPA makes these scientific determinations...

...this endangerment thing. Whoever is at EPA is going to have to look at the scienc...

...Jackson, when she assumes her role at EPA , looks at all of this—the work had al...

...When I was the administrator at the EPA , my counterpart in Germany, th...

...but they had never completed it. The EPA staff was doing what they woul...

...law, and legal authority that sat at EPA under another law, and we created—w...

...I would say my experience at EPA was much more important, where we ha...

...is, they invited me back after I left EPA . They said, “You should come back an...

...was dealing with industry—I mean, even EPA was very—when I first got there, w...

...that to me.” In the '90s when you were EPA [crosstalk]—? At EPA. Yes, it wa...

...when you were EPA [crosstalk]—? At EPA . Yes, it was early at EPA. Thanks fo...

...At EPA. Yes, it was early at EPA . Thanks for discussing that. Th...

...felt like—you know, I was picked to run EPA in '93. I was very young. And I learne...

...Massachusetts filed the lawsuit against EPA , they argued that their primary sourc...

...regulate car pollution outside of what EPA does. And thirteen states have joine...

...Mary Nichols, we had worked together at EPA setting the ozone and fine particle...

...propose a carbon tax, and they wipe out EPA authority to regulate. A carbon ta...

...ratcheting it up. You can also keep the EPA regulatory authority as a backstop. S...

...you're not getting the reductions, then EPA would step in and set the regulations...

...all the carbon-tax proposals wipe out EPA authority, I have not been a supporte...

...the environment minister and I was at EPA , was, “You guys want to use thi...

...issues. I used to joke, when I was at EPA , long before Obama, rarely was th...

...that the federal government, the EPA , can grant day-to-day regulator...

...will not exercise it properly, so EPA has to step in with its federa...

...it's a good division of labor, because EPA has a certain set of skills, and it ca...

...have the science capabilities that EPA had. We simply didn't. We didn't hav...

...us on new technologies. When I was at EPA , I think our lab in Ann Arbor...

...the expense. They left it sitting. So EPA — [laughs] I think it's still tru...

...it's not, but certainly while I was at EPA —was doing the day-to-day work fo...

...The power is granted by Congress to EPA , and then the Congress says to EPA...

...to EPA, and then the Congress says to EPA , “You can delegate certain of thes...

...these powers to a state agency.” Then EPA does an analysis to determine whethe...

...of fine particles. So you don't—the EPA holds onto the big science decision...

...states as we think of them, most of EPA statutes also allow EPA to delegate t...

...them, most of EPA statutes also allow EPA to delegate to tribes that have set u...

...But we did, in fact, when I was at EPA , start the process of actuall...

...Project XL. That was actually at EPA . Project XL was at EPA. But it wa...

...was actually at EPA. Project XL was at EPA . But it was informed by an experienc...

...restoration. So when I got to EPA , I realized there were ways to wor...

...make a decision as a regulator at the EPA , you've made a lot of people unhappy...

...There's also then the memo we left at EPA , which forms the basis of th...

...forms the basis of the Massachusetts v. EPA , which forms the basis of the Suprem...

...of the Supreme Court decision saying EPA can regulate greenhouse gases, or shal...

...regulatory agencies, and specifically EPA . That is in large part, we understan...

...brothers, who were regulated by the EPA . Someone has written a book recentl...

...with America was a full-on attack of EPA . They had ten horror stories abou...

...EPA. They had ten horror stories about EPA . That, in my experience, is a ver...

...the smog, the soot, etc. Now the EPA was starting to work on more comple...

...fervor. I think that what it causes EPA to have to do and the Clinto...

...of negatives about the nanny state, EPA is out of control. One of the thing...

...and there's a bill to try and make EPA the Department of Environmenta...

...you see happening under Trump at the EPA comes right out of that initial attac...

...have direct authority when I was at EPA over this—but says, “Oh, we're going t...

...with the industry. I think that what EPA has done around cars is a good example...

...has done around cars is a good example. EPA has been funded to establish a la...

...the car industry and come to work for EPA in this lab to develop new solutions...

...organic compounds, into the air. EPA has really been an important part o...

...all of the industries. Also remember, EPA has a very different role in regulatin...

...of Interior. In my experience, EPA is a regulatory agency first an...

...a very different mindset. It's funny. EPA has some parts of it that are no...

...rest of the agency. So, for example, EPA licensed pesticides. That's not ...

...were. And that's just something the EPA would know. Right? Because that's wha...

...would know. Right? Because that's what EPA does. I should be clear. There ar...

...clear. There are some permits issued by EPA for these drilling rigs because the...

...exactly a science. So, when [laughs] EPA gets created by Richard Nixon, at on...

...authority on fuel efficiency and the EPA authority on tailpipe and greenhous...

...all get locked—I did it when I was at EPA . You get locked into what you...

...possibility internationally? You had EPA working on power plants. You had th...

...books for eight years, six years. At EPA , they're going back even further. I...

...don't want Congress to do it. They want EPA to do it. Because there's a proces...

...you this example, but when I got to EPA —did we talk about drinking water an...

...a Democratic Congress—gets mad at the EPA for not regulating drinking wate...

...the law—a list of pollutants that EPA shall regulate. So, I get to EPA...

...that EPA shall regulate. So, I get to EPA . We're going down the list, right? ...

...is not on the list that Congress handed EPA . That was a static list based on th...

...drinking water. They said, you know, “ EPA shall have this list. They shall se...

...out there and say, “Yes, we're meeting EPA standards. We're doing what we'r...

...are some who will say, “We hate the EPA . We don't know why we should have t...

...the authority was to— It came from EPA . You know, I don't remember what la...

...I don't remember. But yes, it was EPA 's decision. It was obviously one tha...

...May of 2010, for the first time, EPA announces emissions thresholds fo...

...part of what was happening was, EPA was going through all of the steps. An...

...about Congress. In 1994, when you're EPA administrator in the Clinto...

...did in the White House. I didn't, at EPA . Because again, at EPA, you're no...

...I didn't, at EPA. Because again, at EPA , you're not really engaged as much i...

...was even true in my experience at the EPA . At the end of the day, I had to b...

...permit] and then also directed the EPA to postpone implementing ne...

...Air Quality Standards when I was at EPA , ozone and fine particles. And I wa...

...We did a lot of work when I was at EPA on this. I set up the NEJAC [Nationa...

...sorry. I'm sorry. Right. When I'm at EPA , we set up the National Environmenta...

...this. So we were working, when I was at EPA , with the Justice Department to tr...

...been a presidential memorandum—telling EPA and the Department of Transportation t...

...then had that experience, and came to EPA . So understanding that—it's hard t...

...In fact—I think maybe I was still at EPA , though. At one point, I went to mee...

... We tried very hard when I was at EPA to explain part of—we're th...

...one more time—you had said, “I once ran EPA , and I've seen this movie before. Yo...

...testing, because there was a fear that EPA wouldn't be straightforward becaus...

...issued a presidential memo directing EPA to, “Expeditiously complete carbo...

...year, of course, in March of 2012, EPA had issued a draft rule limiting CO...

...and cleanups, and eventually, US EPA cleaned the site up fully, and it too...

...to eventually state government at US EPA . I never forgot the lessons of havin...

...an advocacy group in Boston suing US EPA to then go and sue the people that ra...

...and at the same time as Mass. v. EPA , the litigation was happening at th...

...the federal level to challenge the US EPA to look at regulating greenhouse ga...

...now we had an ability to litigate EPA and make them do their job to look a...

...up being basically nominated for US EPA by President Obama as his US EP...

...for US EPA by President Obama as his US EPA administrator. I had met her during th...

...government before she had worked at EPA , so we exchanged information on how t...

...became an assistant administrator for EPA 's Office of Air and Radiation? ...

...nuclear plants themselves. But what EPA had was the scientist that talked abou...

...what's protective for health. And what EPA also looked at was radon in the homes...

...an assistant administrator for Obama's EPA , and you have this incredibl...

...but you are now at the flagship of EPA . How does the EPA function? I don'...

...at the flagship of EPA. How does the EPA function? I don't think a lot o...

...you about actually being at the EPA ? When you go to EPA, even from ...

...being at the EPA? When you go to EPA , even from a state level, where w...

...know a lot, the areas of expertise in EPA are pretty vast. There's a lot o...

...states need to live by. That's what EPA does. It regulates things. I...

...mean they're always implemented by EPA . In fact, EPA is not always th...

...always implemented by EPA. In fact, EPA is not always the primary implementer...

...Act, it's states that have primacy, and EPA takes a back seat, just for support. I...

...air permits need to be reviewed by EPA , or could be challenged by EPA. So i...

...by EPA, or could be challenged by EPA . So it is a dance of working togethe...

...that are there to service both EPA in terms of our needs as well a...

...later in my career when I was at US EPA as the administrator, we have ...

...activities. When you have a disaster, EPA is always part of the disaste...

...I mean, you name it, we do it. So EPA , for the most part most of the work w...

...a constantly evolving process. But if EPA is constantly evolving, it also get...

...each administration really affect the EPA , or are there enough scientists tha...

...Obama to a President Trump—changes at EPA —is there enough of an infrastructur...

...there enough of an infrastructure at EPA that it could survive differen...

...So you do have ways, even internal to EPA , to moderate when the shift may b...

...moderation by the advisors within EPA that always are available to the publi...

...people have seen with the rollbacks at EPA have been about denying science, or no...

...were you when you were chosen EPA administrator? Do you remember th...

...White House; because, as you indicated, EPA has always been political, as much a...

...but at that point, was sitting in the EPA headquarters watching it on TV, becaus...

...up as the assistant administrator of US EPA , there had already been a White Hous...

...gas emissions from cars through EPA .” They decided they'd do tha...

...says that—if you remember, Mass. vs. EPA said, “Yes, the Clean Air Act include...

...as the scientific basis for saying that EPA normally could, but had to regulat...

...under way when I was administrator at EPA , was the Clean Power Plan. And tha...

...that it works is, we're supposed to as EPA , establish a best system of emissio...

...pipeline itself, because that's where EPA clearly regulates. So we were lookin...

...the Obama administration, or EPA , think about—I remember Boone Picken...

...the next step for clean energy. How did EPA under Obama view natural gas as ...

...shift? Here's the difference between EPA and the Department of Energy, is tha...

...to make? Now, people will argue that EPA did that, but what EPA did was our jo...

...will argue that EPA did that, but what EPA did was our job looking at differen...

...the lawsuits that had been sued about EPA and doing our job under the law an...

...and came in there with the idea that if EPA got out of the way and we got thos...

...drama. And in the end, the part that EPA played very much ended up looking a...

...was necessary, that did not fall within EPA 's purview. EPA was a participant in ...

...that did not fall within EPA's purview. EPA was a participant in a multiagency loo...

...it had been shaped for a long time, and EPA basically chaired an interagenc...

...an interagency working group, but EPA was far and away the most active...

...often treated like it's just all about EPA cleaning up places. But it's not that...

...also in the crosshairs of climate. EPA has always been very active in doin...

...together. And we did work internally at EPA to integrate environmental justice int...

...be more multiagency opportunities. So EPA took on a much bigger role on thes...

...efforts, to launch—actually, EPA was on the forefront of this. We'...

...NRDC, and groups like it, work with EPA ? What's the relationship with a larg...

...organization interacting with the Environmental Protection Agency ? How can they be part of the solutio...

...policy. They know the laws as much as EPA does, and they definitely work hard t...

...litigators back in 1970, same year that EPA started up, fifty years ago. We jus...

...that wants to do its job and an EPA that is beholden to the public and t...

...With the Obama years and your tenure at EPA , and your incredible knowledge bank o...

...your life, what would you like to see EPA do differently in a Bide...

...have to appoint Anthony Fauci of the EPA , [laughs] somebody who pays attentio...

...you do it at your own peril. And EPA scientists—the science has bee...

...decisions, and people can trust that US EPA is on the job, doing its mission t...

...created a regulatory landscape for the Environmental Protection Agency to proceed with the regulation on powe...

...for greenhouse gas emissions within EPA authority to regulate large stationar...

...so much of the agenda, it's not at EPA , it's not at the Interior Department...

...at the Department of Transportation and EPA . Making sure all of those processe...

...who went on to be the administrator of EPA , and I took away—an important lesso...

...drinking water, and then you've got the Environmental Protection Agency engaged. There's another set of issue...

...the federal government, should the EPA step in and provide safe drinkin...

...you about the change in leadership at EPA when Administrator Jackson left th...

...But after four years of being the EPA administrator, I can respect an...

...we should have a Great Lakes czar at EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] t...

...should have a Great Lakes czar at EPA [ Environmental Protection Agency ] to manage water quality issues s...

...it, what do you need across the Environmental Protection Agency to actually execute against thi...

...to speak to the right hand, making sure EPA was providing this permit, and OSH...

...and greatest on this rule making from EPA . And it's not to say that the agencie...

...created a regulatory landscape for the Environmental Protection Agency to proceed with the regulation on powe...

...for greenhouse gas emissions within EPA authority to regulate large stationar...

...so much of the agenda, it's not at EPA , it's not at the Interior Department...

...at the Department of Transportation and EPA . Making sure all of those processe...

...who went on to be the administrator of EPA , and I took away—an important lesso...

...drinking water, and then you've got the Environmental Protection Agency engaged. There's another set of issue...

...the federal government, should the EPA step in and provide safe drinkin...

...you about the change in leadership at EPA when Administrator Jackson left th...

...But after four years of being the EPA administrator, I can respect an...

...career at EPA; because my first jobs at EPA were in Superfund. And Superfund, o...

...And Superfund, of all the programs in EPA , has the most robust communit...

...those were tools that you brought to EPA during the Obama administration. ...

...Sure. I brought back to EPA . But yes [laughs]. You brought bac...

...But yes [laughs]. You brought back to EPA . Yes. Thanks for that. And I do wan...

...what's so extraordinary about being at EPA , then going to the state, and then no...

...to the state, and then now back to EPA , is you realize how much things g...

...I'm in my interview with him for the EPA position, we laughed abou...

...you to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and about that interview? Oh, sure...

...me if I would consider serving on the EPA transition team. And by that point, th...

...mind leading the transition team for EPA ?” And I said, “Okay, no problem.” ...

...I resigned so that I could go run the EPA . But, back to your question...

...I did. Talked about what I was doing at EPA . And when I walked out, he said t...

...should know Lisa Jackson This is our EPA administrator.” That's as close as i...

...probably the last time [laughs] at the EPA I ever wrote anything that I read tha...

...at—or close to entry-level engineer at EPA . It was back to that idea again of...

...in New Jersey to head of the EPA , kind of your life's ambition. Bu...

...the group as “vivid reminders of how EPA can be a force for good if it does it...

...its job well, and what can go wrong if EPA falls short.” What was it important fo...

...time by the time I came to head up the EPA . There was also a history in the year...

...so many communities—when I started at EPA in '87, I worked in DC, but by '89 ...

...make sure that if I was going to be at EPA , one of—we had seven priorities for m...

...had seven priorities for my time at EPA . And one of them was aroun...

...will not compromise the integrity of EPA 's technical experts to advanc...

...“Science must be the backbone of what EPA does.” Why was it important to you t...

...of the headlines in the papers was that EPA scientists had been overruled by Whit...

...overruled was in the Massachusetts v. EPA case and the fallout from that...

...the State of Massachusetts, had sued EPA under the Bush administration and said...

...for you as far as air pollution, then EPA must address it. EPA must set about th...

...pollution, then EPA must address it. EPA must set about the process o...

...that the endangerment finding. Once EPA finds something endangers public healt...

...compelled to act. So Massachusetts sued EPA and said, “You have been looking awa...

...other climate-changing gases. And you, EPA , by this law are required to make ...

...and welfare, now and in the future.” EPA lost that case [laughs], and lost it o...

...and now documented, piece of EPA White House history, prepared th...

...had come to unfortunately associate EPA regulatory work with. I don't want t...

...other types—of challenging every single EPA rule, to the point where they woul...

...was so important to remind people that EPA is primarily an agency composed o...

...I was also—a lot of the people who run EPA have been lawyers. And I'm a little bi...

...in January of 2009, you announced that EPA , under your watch, would follo...

...the court's order in Massachusetts v. EPA . At the time, in announcing that EP...

...v. EPA. At the time, in announcing that EPA would indeed [be] determining if CO...

...of environmental policy, and Mass v. EPA , and endangerment findings, but the...

...in January of 2009, you announced that EPA would review California's request t...

...standards, which are set jointly with EPA and DOT [Department of Transportation]...

...sets the fuel-economy standards, but EPA sets the emission standards [laughs]...

...who succeeded me as head of the EPA —I'm not even sure Gina went. M...

...one of the interesting things about EPA . It's a really fascinating plac...

...kind of tricky. In September of 2009, EPA also announced that it would requir...

...their emissions. Up to that point, had EPA been able to quantify the variou...

...because you have all these offices of EPA around the country. You visit th...

...great. The labs are really special. EPA has labs across the country. That wa...

...back to December of 2009. That month, EPA issued an endangerment an...

...And the whole point of Massachusetts v. EPA was that the Clean Air Act, existin...

...law, an existing law alone, gave EPA the authority to regulate greenhous...

...you go ahead and pass a new law or EPA is waiting in the wings?” And it wa...

...[laughs]. The “or else you get the EPA .” So that was the only thing ...

...happens through the State Department. EPA was not in charge of the negotiations...

...was scheduled to make a speech—and that EPA would use that speech to announce tha...

...enforcement, oversight, something of EPA , where—I remain convinced th...

...how to implement this measure was at EPA . So it wasn't that I thought EPA rule...

...was at EPA. So it wasn't that I thought EPA rules were the best way, under th...

...and banking, another example. The EPA doesn't have that. There's no—there i...

...of the economy, but in general, the EPA 's constituency is the people and th...

...staffers in the agencies, like EPA , and maybe they have a question abou...

...between those staffers and staff at the EPA . And that's happening through EPA'...

...the EPA. And that's happening through EPA 's office of congressional affairs. Bu...

...carbon-exchange system, to be housed at EPA in the event that cap and trade becam...

...is because that program was run out of EPA . The assignment of emission...

...be sold—all that was happening through EPA 's auspices. So EPA had deep expertis...

...happening through EPA's auspices. So EPA had deep expertise in that. Part o...

...cap and trade changed the agenda at EPA in any way. Oh yes, sure. Th...

...if you don't pass a law, the big, bad EPA is going to regulate, is kind of wher...

...than climate change. And as head of the EPA , so are you. You're dealing with al...

...team and as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the Obama administration. This i...

...by asking just a question or two about EPA as an agency and your memories of EP...

...EPA as an agency and your memories of EPA when you arrived. In our last session...

...to ask about how you thought about EPA and community engagement when you firs...

...but it wasn't my first arrival at EPA , right? I had never worked in tha...

...Clinton Building, but I had worked for EPA in New York City and in Washington, DC...

...or, I guess, knowledge of how EPA works in communities, because I worke...

...of the more community-oriented parts of EPA , which is the Superfund program...

...one of the coolest places to work in EPA ; because, you know, you can work a...

...EPA; because, you know, you can work at EPA your whole career and never really wor...

...the amount of community engagement that EPA had across the country? Yes, with ...

...is very much true that, in most cases, EPA either delegates or gives the lead fo...

...to ask a question about personnel at EPA . I've read that in early 2009, yo...

...to bring more diversity to the staff at EPA . And I wanted to ask you if there ar...

...that a lack of diversity had hindered EPA and its mission, and also if there wer...

...to try to diversify the personnel at EPA . Oh, sure. I mean, I think EPA, lik...

...at EPA. Oh, sure. I mean, I think EPA , like many parts of the government...

...I was far from the first head of the EPA that was a woman, but I was the firs...

...I wanted to ask: As your tenure at EPA began in 2009, how did you want t...

...Gulf Coast, and I've read that part of EPA 's role in responding to the acciden...

...those assessments? Yes, it's part of EPA 's role, but not our only role. Yo...

...which is a federal designated trustee. EPA is not a trustee of resources. Then yo...

...is that as a regulatory agency, EPA has real authority, as does th...

...enforced ocean drilling, so that's not EPA . After Deepwater Horizon, that tea...

...Then, it was also not an EPA lead response. The Coast Guard was th...

...it happened in navigable waters. EPA had a couple of roles. The first wa...

...was surprising; because, of course, EPA was borne out of an oil spill, th...

...Reilly, who had been the head of the EPA , ended up being one of the cochairs o...

...really cool job for me, because, again, EPA is not a natural damage—we're not ...

...and yet I think I really used my EPA Superfund experience; was part of th...

...penalties was a big concern, and EPA could assess those penalties with th...

...concern about cattle and wildlife, that EPA was trying to shut down thos...

...We were well into the idea that EPA was going to fly drones and spy o...

...shut down. One of my favorites, that EPA was going to use the PM10, th...

...problem, but biofuels in general, how EPA would or wouldn't regulate biofuel...

...2012 that you'd be stepping down from EPA , and the official announcement came i...

...And we don't all get what we want, but EPA is actually a fairly unforgiving plac...

...job, because “the administrator of the EPA shall” is written in any number o...

...single action you take as head of the EPA is going to be litigated. Almost ever...

...team and as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] during the Obama administration...

...the Environmental Protection Agency [ EPA ] during the Obama administration. Thi...

...connection between the work of the EPA , which at that time was the preeminen...

...to ask you about your first stint at EPA in the 1980s and the 1990s later on i...

...comes a little bit from my career at EPA ; because my first jobs at EPA were i...

...career at EPA; because my first jobs at EPA were in Superfund. And Superfund, o...

...And Superfund, of all the programs in EPA , has the most robust communit...

...those were tools that you brought to EPA during the Obama administration. ...

...Sure. I brought back to EPA . But yes [laughs]. You brought bac...

...But yes [laughs]. You brought back to EPA . Yes. Thanks for that. And I do wan...

...what's so extraordinary about being at EPA , then going to the state, and then no...

...to the state, and then now back to EPA , is you realize how much things g...

...I'm in my interview with him for the EPA position, we laughed abou...

...you to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and about that interview? Oh, sure...

...me if I would consider serving on the EPA transition team. And by that point, th...

...mind leading the transition team for EPA ?” And I said, “Okay, no problem.” ...

...I resigned so that I could go run the EPA . But, back to your question...

...I did. Talked about what I was doing at EPA . And when I walked out, he said t...

...should know Lisa Jackson This is our EPA administrator.” That's as close as i...

...probably the last time [laughs] at the EPA I ever wrote anything that I read tha...

...at—or close to entry-level engineer at EPA . It was back to that idea again of...

...in New Jersey to head of the EPA , kind of your life's ambition. Bu...

...the group as “vivid reminders of how EPA can be a force for good if it does it...

...its job well, and what can go wrong if EPA falls short.” What was it important fo...

...time by the time I came to head up the EPA . There was also a history in the year...

...so many communities—when I started at EPA in '87, I worked in DC, but by '89 ...

...make sure that if I was going to be at EPA , one of—we had seven priorities for m...

...had seven priorities for my time at EPA . And one of them was aroun...

...will not compromise the integrity of EPA 's technical experts to advanc...

...“Science must be the backbone of what EPA does.” Why was it important to you t...

...of the headlines in the papers was that EPA scientists had been overruled by Whit...

...overruled was in the Massachusetts v. EPA case and the fallout from that...

...the State of Massachusetts, had sued EPA under the Bush administration and said...

...for you as far as air pollution, then EPA must address it. EPA must set about th...

...pollution, then EPA must address it. EPA must set about the process o...

...that the endangerment finding. Once EPA finds something endangers public healt...

...compelled to act. So Massachusetts sued EPA and said, “You have been looking awa...

...other climate-changing gases. And you, EPA , by this law are required to make ...

...and welfare, now and in the future.” EPA lost that case [laughs], and lost it o...

...and now documented, piece of EPA White House history, prepared th...

...had come to unfortunately associate EPA regulatory work with. I don't want t...

...other types—of challenging every single EPA rule, to the point where they woul...

...was so important to remind people that EPA is primarily an agency composed o...

...I was also—a lot of the people who run EPA have been lawyers. And I'm a little bi...

...in January of 2009, you announced that EPA , under your watch, would follo...

...the court's order in Massachusetts v. EPA . At the time, in announcing that EP...

...v. EPA. At the time, in announcing that EPA would indeed [be] determining if CO...

...of environmental policy, and Mass v. EPA , and endangerment findings, but the...

...in January of 2009, you announced that EPA would review California's request t...

...standards, which are set jointly with EPA and DOT [Department of Transportation]...

...sets the fuel-economy standards, but EPA sets the emission standards [laughs]...

...who succeeded me as head of the EPA —I'm not even sure Gina went. M...

...one of the interesting things about EPA . It's a really fascinating plac...

...kind of tricky. In September of 2009, EPA also announced that it would requir...

...their emissions. Up to that point, had EPA been able to quantify the variou...

...because you have all these offices of EPA around the country. You visit th...

...great. The labs are really special. EPA has labs across the country. That wa...

...back to December of 2009. That month, EPA issued an endangerment an...

...And the whole point of Massachusetts v. EPA was that the Clean Air Act, existin...

...law, an existing law alone, gave EPA the authority to regulate greenhous...

...you go ahead and pass a new law or EPA is waiting in the wings?” And it wa...

...[laughs]. The “or else you get the EPA .” So that was the only thing ...

...happens through the State Department. EPA was not in charge of the negotiations...

...was scheduled to make a speech—and that EPA would use that speech to announce tha...

...enforcement, oversight, something of EPA , where—I remain convinced th...

...how to implement this measure was at EPA . So it wasn't that I thought EPA rule...

...was at EPA. So it wasn't that I thought EPA rules were the best way, under th...

...and banking, another example. The EPA doesn't have that. There's no—there i...

...of the economy, but in general, the EPA 's constituency is the people and th...

...staffers in the agencies, like EPA , and maybe they have a question abou...

...between those staffers and staff at the EPA . And that's happening through EPA'...

...the EPA. And that's happening through EPA 's office of congressional affairs. Bu...

...carbon-exchange system, to be housed at EPA in the event that cap and trade becam...

...is because that program was run out of EPA . The assignment of emission...

...be sold—all that was happening through EPA 's auspices. So EPA had deep expertis...

...happening through EPA's auspices. So EPA had deep expertise in that. Part o...

...cap and trade changed the agenda at EPA in any way. Oh yes, sure. Th...

...if you don't pass a law, the big, bad EPA is going to regulate, is kind of wher...

...than climate change. And as head of the EPA , so are you. You're dealing with al...

...team and as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the Obama administration. This i...

...by asking just a question or two about EPA as an agency and your memories of EP...

...EPA as an agency and your memories of EPA when you arrived. In our last session...

...to ask about how you thought about EPA and community engagement when you firs...

...but it wasn't my first arrival at EPA , right? I had never worked in tha...

...Clinton Building, but I had worked for EPA in New York City and in Washington, DC...

...or, I guess, knowledge of how EPA works in communities, because I worke...

...of the more community-oriented parts of EPA , which is the Superfund program...

...one of the coolest places to work in EPA ; because, you know, you can work a...

...EPA; because, you know, you can work at EPA your whole career and never really wor...

...the amount of community engagement that EPA had across the country? Yes, with ...

...is very much true that, in most cases, EPA either delegates or gives the lead fo...

...to ask a question about personnel at EPA . I've read that in early 2009, yo...

...to bring more diversity to the staff at EPA . And I wanted to ask you if there ar...

...that a lack of diversity had hindered EPA and its mission, and also if there wer...

...to try to diversify the personnel at EPA . Oh, sure. I mean, I think EPA, lik...

...at EPA. Oh, sure. I mean, I think EPA , like many parts of the government...

...I was far from the first head of the EPA that was a woman, but I was the firs...

...I wanted to ask: As your tenure at EPA began in 2009, how did you want t...

...Gulf Coast, and I've read that part of EPA 's role in responding to the acciden...

...those assessments? Yes, it's part of EPA 's role, but not our only role. Yo...

...which is a federal designated trustee. EPA is not a trustee of resources. Then yo...

...is that as a regulatory agency, EPA has real authority, as does th...

...enforced ocean drilling, so that's not EPA . After Deepwater Horizon, that tea...

...Then, it was also not an EPA lead response. The Coast Guard was th...

...it happened in navigable waters. EPA had a couple of roles. The first wa...

...was surprising; because, of course, EPA was borne out of an oil spill, th...

...Reilly, who had been the head of the EPA , ended up being one of the cochairs o...

...really cool job for me, because, again, EPA is not a natural damage—we're not ...

...and yet I think I really used my EPA Superfund experience; was part of th...

...penalties was a big concern, and EPA could assess those penalties with th...

...concern about cattle and wildlife, that EPA was trying to shut down thos...

...We were well into the idea that EPA was going to fly drones and spy o...

...shut down. One of my favorites, that EPA was going to use the PM10, th...

...problem, but biofuels in general, how EPA would or wouldn't regulate biofuel...

...2012 that you'd be stepping down from EPA , and the official announcement came i...

...And we don't all get what we want, but EPA is actually a fairly unforgiving plac...

...job, because “the administrator of the EPA shall” is written in any number o...

...single action you take as head of the EPA is going to be litigated. Almost ever...

...the focus on environmental justice at EPA , and then eventually the Clinto...

...government had to respond in some way. EPA , I think to Carol's credit, reall...

...administration wide. This isn't just an EPA problem. So in California, it wasn'...

...of it because I came directly from US EPA , and then I'd been working in th...

...statute, and it directed the California Environmental Protection Agency —I'm going to forget everything i...

...that I needed help. I actually went to EPA and said, “Can I borrow you...

...standards. And because I had come from EPA , my unique contribution to that bil...

...the Supreme Court of Massachusetts v. EPA , which was decided by the Suprem...

...the question that was set up was, was EPA going to regulate, or was Congres...

...you join the agency review team for EPA ?” It was David Hayes, who went up t...

...interested to do that. So I joined the EPA agency review team, which was sort of ...

...a mix of some folks that I knew from my EPA days and others. We started with a lo...

...back and forth. When I had worked at EPA headquarters, it was not in th...

...who served as deputy administrator of EPA at the end of the George W. Bus...

...“Welcome Transition Team.” And at EPA they're like, “Go sit by th...

...office, and even people who worked for EPA , for many years, were like, “I'v...

...transition personnel work had been at EPA with me, Mike McCabe, who had been on...

...I was being looked at for a position at EPA , one of the program heads, th...

...was important to make that commitment. EPA is not technically a cabinet agency...

...Clinton initially sort of made EPA part of the cabinet. I actually don'...

...I knew a little bit of it from my EPA days—was, whatever the outside worl...

...approach. It couldn't just be at EPA . It couldn't just be at the Departmen...

...of the Clinton administration as the EPA administrator, so she was not onl...

...lot during the transition, and frankly EPA in particular. A number of regulation...

...sort of a big pile of things awaiting EPA to fix, because the courts had said th...

...scientific integrity. I had worked at EPA on some challenging issues that wer...

...Ambient Air Quality Standards. In 1997, EPA spent a lot of time on this, revise...

...of Energy was sort of promoting this. EPA was looking at the environmenta...

...Guzy, had been the general counsel at EPA during part of the Clinto...

...and had actually worked on Mass v. EPA , the preliminaries of that while h...

...of Energy and Climate Change, Gary, the EPA , and NHTSA—the National Highwa...

...standards. And since Mass v. EPA said that carbon dioxide was ...

...of the Clean Water Act over wetlands. EPA wanted to work with Congress wher...

...change. But to some extent Mass v. EPA set the Clean Air Act up as ...

...remember who it was. It might've been EPA ; it might've been one of th...

...surprised, because nobody had ever— EPA did as well, I'm pretty sure. No on...

...two things. There's a requirement that EPA review all environmental impac...

...won't get into details. But anyway, EPA has to rate them. Then, if there's ...

...Then, if there's a dispute between EPA and the lead agency, they can go to CE...

...talking to the State Department and EPA about the Keystone pipeline, and th...

...with this question. I've read that EPA administrator Lisa Jackson signed th...

...of course, Carol from the time I was at EPA through 1999. So it was talking abou...

...be one thing; it wasn't going to be one EPA regulation or one strategy at th...

...with it in state government, where EPA would evaluate toxic legacy sites an...

...would happen and they have no say. So EPA sort of instituted a policy, or a...

...state supervision and putting it under EPA supervision. I think at least i...

...least in California, it was like, Well, EPA is so slow, and things have been on th...

...for Lisa Jackson, coming in as the EPA administrator, to try to move some o...

...of this along. I think she had, in her EPA career prior to that, worked on ...

...of disputes between states and the EPA ? No, not really. We were aware o...

...issues they would like to discuss with EPA and wanted to talk to the White Hous...

...about climate change as a single EPA regulation or a policy at th...

...of their practices? Well, I think EPA was very enthusiastic about being par...

...But it wasn't so much really about EPA programs, but just generally how do yo...

...at Department of the Interior and EPA sort of saying who's in charge of this...

...Reclamation Act of], and then of course EPA dealing with impacts, particularly o...

...And I think it was a little bit of the EPA view of the world that you had t...

...mining statute said one thin,g and then EPA was saying, “Yes, that's all well an...

...these decisions that are clearly within EPA 's jurisdiction.” You mentioned, a...

...on coal? Yes, it wasn't just us. EPA was involved; of course Interior wa...

...the radiation—and it turned out that EPA had a monitoring program; that they di...

...River and the Chicago River. So EPA was very alarmed. They're like, “That'...

...nearly a decade. I've read that you and EPA administrator Lisa Jackson wer...

...It wasn't like nothing was being done. EPA certainly—they had a new Office o...

...active, and some agencies had programs. EPA , they had complaints under Title VI o...

...committee were raising were not EPA issues. They weren't issues necessaril...

...They weren't issues necessarily in EPA 's purview. So you couldn't just say...

...just say, “Well, sorry, that's not an EPA issue. Go away,” but really trying t...

...wanted to ask about EPA 's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards fo...

...court. But it had gotten sent back to EPA to try to address, and it was kind of ...

...the industry was arguing that what EPA wanted to do was going to be incredibl...

...raise power prices for no benefit. And EPA 's view was, that's not right, a; and...

...were announced in September of 2011, EPA issued a proposal for new Ozon...

...a process under the Clean Air Act where EPA has to periodically review thes...

...matter] review when I worked at EPA in the Clinton administration. I'm no...

...way. People were very unsatisfied, so EPA was sort of left with this, “Okay, wha...

...going to have—the way that it works is, EPA then, based on that standard...

...you as chair of CEQ or administrator of EPA ? I sort of remembered it had t...

...There certainly was work going on in EPA , and I think in other agencies a...

...issue that can get solved by a single EPA regulation. There was the internationa...

...process. On mitigation, you could say EPA is going to promulgate a regulatio...

...isn't [laughs], a formal way that—like EPA and many federal agencies have thes...

...and their families there, and also as EPA had raised some red flags about th...

...environmental review. It wasn't just EPA . Fish and Wildlife Service wa...

...concerned about invasive species, and EPA had a number of concerns around th...

...agency in Guam was basically under EPA 's supervision, because they could no...

...and we saw all the installations. Some EPA folks were there, and we toured th...

...always aware of that clock. Because if EPA comes in and says, “Well, we can do ...

...that story. I read that you worked at EPA [Environmental Protection Agency...

...story. I read that you worked at EPA [ Environmental Protection Agency ] during the Clinton administratio...

...including as special assistant to EPA Administrator Carol Browner. And ...

...charge to Carol and the whole team at EPA was really to try to reset and mak...

...relations at the California Environmental Protection Agency [CalEPA] from 1999 to 2003. I've rea...

...the focus on environmental justice at EPA , and then eventually the Clinto...

...government had to respond in some way. EPA , I think to Carol's credit, reall...

...administration wide. This isn't just an EPA problem. So in California, it wasn'...

...of it because I came directly from US EPA , and then I'd been working in th...

...statute, and it directed the California Environmental Protection Agency —I'm going to forget everything i...

...that I needed help. I actually went to EPA and said, “Can I borrow you...

...standards. And because I had come from EPA , my unique contribution to that bil...

...the Supreme Court of Massachusetts v. EPA , which was decided by the Suprem...

...the question that was set up was, was EPA going to regulate, or was Congres...

...you join the agency review team for EPA ?” It was David Hayes, who went up t...

...interested to do that. So I joined the EPA agency review team, which was sort of ...

...a mix of some folks that I knew from my EPA days and others. We started with a lo...

...back and forth. When I had worked at EPA headquarters, it was not in th...

...who served as deputy administrator of EPA at the end of the George W. Bus...

...“Welcome Transition Team.” And at EPA they're like, “Go sit by th...

...office, and even people who worked for EPA , for many years, were like, “I'v...

...transition personnel work had been at EPA with me, Mike McCabe, who had been on...

...I was being looked at for a position at EPA , one of the program heads, th...

...was important to make that commitment. EPA is not technically a cabinet agency...

...Clinton initially sort of made EPA part of the cabinet. I actually don'...

...I knew a little bit of it from my EPA days—was, whatever the outside worl...

...approach. It couldn't just be at EPA . It couldn't just be at the Departmen...

...of the Clinton administration as the EPA administrator, so she was not onl...

...lot during the transition, and frankly EPA in particular. A number of regulation...

...sort of a big pile of things awaiting EPA to fix, because the courts had said th...

...scientific integrity. I had worked at EPA on some challenging issues that wer...

...Ambient Air Quality Standards. In 1997, EPA spent a lot of time on this, revise...

...of Energy was sort of promoting this. EPA was looking at the environmenta...

...Guzy, had been the general counsel at EPA during part of the Clinto...

...and had actually worked on Mass v. EPA , the preliminaries of that while h...

...of Energy and Climate Change, Gary, the EPA , and NHTSA—the National Highwa...

...standards. And since Mass v. EPA said that carbon dioxide was ...

...of the Clean Water Act over wetlands. EPA wanted to work with Congress wher...

...change. But to some extent Mass v. EPA set the Clean Air Act up as ...

...remember who it was. It might've been EPA ; it might've been one of th...

...surprised, because nobody had ever— EPA did as well, I'm pretty sure. No on...

...two things. There's a requirement that EPA review all environmental impac...

...won't get into details. But anyway, EPA has to rate them. Then, if there's ...

...Then, if there's a dispute between EPA and the lead agency, they can go to CE...

...talking to the State Department and EPA about the Keystone pipeline, and th...

...with this question. I've read that EPA administrator Lisa Jackson signed th...

...of course, Carol from the time I was at EPA through 1999. So it was talking abou...

...be one thing; it wasn't going to be one EPA regulation or one strategy at th...

...with it in state government, where EPA would evaluate toxic legacy sites an...

...would happen and they have no say. So EPA sort of instituted a policy, or a...

...state supervision and putting it under EPA supervision. I think at least i...

...least in California, it was like, Well, EPA is so slow, and things have been on th...

...for Lisa Jackson, coming in as the EPA administrator, to try to move some o...

...of this along. I think she had, in her EPA career prior to that, worked on ...

...of disputes between states and the EPA ? No, not really. We were aware o...

...issues they would like to discuss with EPA and wanted to talk to the White Hous...

...about climate change as a single EPA regulation or a policy at th...

...of their practices? Well, I think EPA was very enthusiastic about being par...

...But it wasn't so much really about EPA programs, but just generally how do yo...

...at Department of the Interior and EPA sort of saying who's in charge of this...

...Reclamation Act of], and then of course EPA dealing with impacts, particularly o...

...And I think it was a little bit of the EPA view of the world that you had t...

...mining statute said one thin,g and then EPA was saying, “Yes, that's all well an...

...these decisions that are clearly within EPA 's jurisdiction.” You mentioned, a...

...on coal? Yes, it wasn't just us. EPA was involved; of course Interior wa...

...the radiation—and it turned out that EPA had a monitoring program; that they di...

...River and the Chicago River. So EPA was very alarmed. They're like, “That'...

...nearly a decade. I've read that you and EPA administrator Lisa Jackson wer...

...It wasn't like nothing was being done. EPA certainly—they had a new Office o...

...active, and some agencies had programs. EPA , they had complaints under Title VI o...

...committee were raising were not EPA issues. They weren't issues necessaril...

...They weren't issues necessarily in EPA 's purview. So you couldn't just say...

...just say, “Well, sorry, that's not an EPA issue. Go away,” but really trying t...

...wanted to ask about EPA 's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards fo...

...court. But it had gotten sent back to EPA to try to address, and it was kind of ...

...the industry was arguing that what EPA wanted to do was going to be incredibl...

...raise power prices for no benefit. And EPA 's view was, that's not right, a; and...

...were announced in September of 2011, EPA issued a proposal for new Ozon...

...a process under the Clean Air Act where EPA has to periodically review thes...

...matter] review when I worked at EPA in the Clinton administration. I'm no...

...way. People were very unsatisfied, so EPA was sort of left with this, “Okay, wha...

...going to have—the way that it works is, EPA then, based on that standard...

...you as chair of CEQ or administrator of EPA ? I sort of remembered it had t...

...There certainly was work going on in EPA , and I think in other agencies a...

...issue that can get solved by a single EPA regulation. There was the internationa...

...process. On mitigation, you could say EPA is going to promulgate a regulatio...

...isn't [laughs], a formal way that—like EPA and many federal agencies have thes...

...and their families there, and also as EPA had raised some red flags about th...

...environmental review. It wasn't just EPA . Fish and Wildlife Service wa...

...concerned about invasive species, and EPA had a number of concerns around th...

...agency in Guam was basically under EPA 's supervision, because they could no...

...and we saw all the installations. Some EPA folks were there, and we toured th...

...always aware of that clock. Because if EPA comes in and says, “Well, we can do ...