5 day forecast
Obama has chosen the right EPA leader
Share with others:
On March 4, President Barack Obama nominated Gina McCarthy to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, an agency on the front lines of public health and environmental protection. Ms. McCarthy is a pragmatic and dedicated professional who has strong working relationships with members of the business community.
These relationships will be important as she works to encourage growth in the energy sector, stabilize costs and protect public health, our children and families from the dangers of soot, smog, mercury and carbon pollution. Her work as assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation is proof of her resolve. These public health protections will save lives, prevent illness and drive innovation in new clean energy technology. That last one is especially dear to me as I've spent the better part of my adult life working on technologies that promote energy efficiency and healthier air.
Pittsburghers should be especially heartened by the nomination of Ms. McCarthy. Our region continues to struggle with issues of air quality and ranks among the most polluted regions in the U.S. for airborne particle pollution in the American Lung Association's 2012 annual report. Allegheny County is many years into the process of a state implementation plan that will show how polluted areas can ultimately attain federal standards for healthy air as prescribed by the federal Clean Air Act.
Ms. McCarthy is the right leader to keep the EPA focused on tackling these important public health challenges. I encourage Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey to confirm her nomination.
GEORGIA BERNER
President
Berner International Corp.
New Castle
First Published March 8, 2013 12:00 am
