Statement of Fred Krupp Executive Director, Environmental Defense On the Appointment of Governor Christie Todd Whitman Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

The appointment of Governor Whitman is a very positive action from President-elect Bush.

The Governor of New Jersey understands that there are serious air pollution problems still facing our nation. She has been a leader in efforts to secure clear air and protect the health of citizens in New Jersey and has also aggressively moved to engage mid-western states in efforts to clean the air. This makes us hopeful that in her tenure at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) she will continue the important work of clearing the nation’s air.

Governor Whitman has led efforts to clean New Jersey’s coastal waters. As the US may be starting a race for new energy sources, she will need to speak out and take action to protect our coastal and other precious natural resources from exploitation.

New Jersey, thanks in large part to her leadership, has among the best right-to-know systems in the nation, which has led to substantial, measurable reductions in pollutants. It is a model for the nation of a bipartisan approach to releasing more public data about pollution to help prompt better decisions and stronger environmental protections for the public.

Finally, in every administration, there are voices on the other side of these issues. As a Governor arriving at EPA with stature and a track record, we at Environmental Defense are hopeful that she will emerge as a strong and independent voice for the protection of our resources and the health of our citizens.