Government Executive Get the latest on need-to-know topics for federal employees delivered to your inbox.
email
Still, the nominee would have a lot of work ahead of him if confirmed, advocates note.
Environmental groups and the largest union representing Environmental Protection Agency employees expressed optimism following a confirmation hearing Wednesday that President Biden’s pick to lead the EPA will bring back scientific integrity and trust at the agency.
Michael Regan, most recently secretary of North Carolina s Department of Environmental Quality, worked for the EPA in various capacities from 1998 to 2008. “We will restore the role of science and transparency at EPA. We will support the dedicated and talented career officials,” he testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “We will move with a sense of urgency on climate change and we will stand up for environmental justice and equity and we will do that in a collaborati
By Mark Starling
Asheville s Hotel Construction Ban Lifting
(Asheville, NC) A ban on hotel construction in Asheville is about to end. The city plans to lift the year-and-a-half-long moratorium at the end of this month, with a few changes in place. The planning and zoning commission revealed last night that new hotels must start meeting public benefit requirements, such as paying a living wage and utilizing green elements. The Asheville Mall and River Ridge shopping center will also be removed from the hotel overlay district.
DOT Forces Out Asheville Homeless Camp
(Asheville, NC) The city of Asheville is reviewing the removal of a homeless camp under the Lexington Bridge in downtown. Up to ten people were reportedly told to leave the area by the North Carolina Department of Transportation on Monday. The assistant city manager told WLOS-TV the proper city protocol wasn t followed since those affected weren t given seven-days to remove their belongings. The DOT asked
Share it
UPDATE: March 11, 2021: The Senate confirmed Michael Regan as the next U.S. EPA administrator Wednesday by a vote of 66-34. All Senate Democrats voted in favor, along with 16 Republicans.
Dive Brief:
Michael Regan, the nominee for U.S. EPA administrator, acknowledged plastic pollution as a “significant” challenge in response to a question during Wednesday s Senate confirmation. If confirmed, he agreed to take a further look at proposals and programs aimed at reducing single-use plastic.
Regan, currently the secretary for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), also vowed to address issues related to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which he described as a “top priority” for the Biden administration. He promised to evaluate strategies for regulating the chemicals, but stopped short of confirming that EPA would set specific limits under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
POLITICO
Get the Morning Energy newsletter
Email
Sign Up
By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or updates from POLITICO and you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service. You can unsubscribe at any time and you can contact us here. This sign-up form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Presented by
With help from Leah Nylen, Zack Colman , Jennifer Scholtes, Caitlin Emma and Eric Wolff
Editor’s Note: Morning Energy is a free version of POLITICO Pro Energy s morning newsletter, which is delivered to our subscribers each morning at 6 a.m. The POLITICO Pro platform combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the day’s biggest stories. Act on the news with POLITICO Pro.