Earthjustice Raises Concerns About New EPA Nominee Stephen Johnson

Americans deserve a nominee who will uphold environmental laws

Contacts

Joan Mulhern or Cat Lazaroff, 202-667-4500

The following is a statement by Earthjustice Senior Legislative Counsel Joan Mulhern on the nomination of Stephen Johnson, the acting head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to officially head the agency:

“We are troubled by the nomination of Stephen Johnson to be the next EPA administrator. Although Mr. Johnson has a long career of service at the EPA, most recently he has been a mouthpiece for some of the Bush administration’s most anti-environmental policies, including its failure to control mercury pollution, and its unprecedented cuts to the EPA’s budget.

The White House under George W. Bush has a track record of interfering with the EPA’s handling of environmental enforcement and policy. The person who heads the EPA must have the qualifications and character to defend and enforce the nation’s most important environmental laws. The American people deserve no less. At best, this nomination raises many questions for public health and environment.”


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Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.