"WASHINGTON — When Joseph R. Biden, Jr. won the presidential election, his top candidate to lead the nation’s most powerful environmental agency appeared clear: Mary D. Nichols, California’s clean air regulator and arguably the country’s most experienced climate change official, was seen as a lock to run the Environmental Protection Agency.
Now Mr. Biden’s team is scrambling to find someone else, according to several people who have spoken with the presidential transition team. The chief reason: This month, a group of more than 70 environmental justice groups wrote to the Biden transition charging that Ms. Nichols has a “bleak track record in addressing environmental racism.”
Possible last-minute candidates, those people said, include Michael S. Regan, a senior North Carolina environmental official, Richard L. Revesz, a New York University law professor, and Basil Seggos, head of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, none of whom had been in serious contention for the job until late last week. The Biden team is also considering asking Gina McCarthy, who ran the agency in the Obama administration, to return."
Coral Davenport reports for the New York Times December 14, 2020.
SEE ALSO:
"Past GOP Obstruction Haunts Biden Search for EPA Chief" (E&E News)
"New Contenders Emerge For Biden's EPA Administrator" (E&E News)
"Biden eyes Gina McCarthy as domestic 'climate czar': report" (The Hill)
"Biden Considers Former EPA Chief McCarthy for Domestic Climate Czar - Sources" (Reuters)
"Biden eyes new EPA picks as Nichols falls from favor: report" (The Hill)
"Who Will Spearhead Biden's Climate, Energy And Agriculture Policies?" (Reuters)
"Progressives Frustrated With Representation As Biden Cabinet Takes Shape" (The Hill)
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