Shawn M. Garvin was appointed Thursday administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 3 in Philadelphia, encompassing Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

Mr. Garvin joined the EPA in 1997 as special assistant to Regional Administrator Michael McCabe and has recently worked as the region's state and congressional liaison. Prior to the EPA, Mr. Garvin worked for then-Sen. Joe Biden.

As regional administrator, he will be responsible for managing the agency's daily activities.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced President Barack Obama's selection of Mr. Garvin in Washington.

"I look forward to working closely with Shawn on the range of urgent environmental issues we face, in Region 3 and across the nation," she said.

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