‘Carrot the Magic Deer’ survives the arrow shot through the head

The news garnered a string of responses from environmental advocates, including praise that the apparent election means the rejection of California Air Resources Board President Mary Nichols, who faced progressives for alleged failures in the communities of the front lines of the gross industry. Other green activists reacted to the possible nomination with a critical eye, pointing to what they consider Regan’s “mixed record on environmental justice.”

According to The Associated Press, Biden’s choice for Regan “was confirmed on Thursday by a person familiar with the selection process who was not authorized [to] discussed the matter publicly before the official announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. “

CNN, citing information from people familiar with the matter, reported that Regan would be formally announced as a selection on Saturday.

Regan, 44, has been secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality since 2017. He previously worked for the EPA’s energy and air quality programs during the Clinton and Bush administrations. If confirmed by the Senate, Regan would be the second black EPA administrator in the nation; Lisa Jackson, who was part of the Obama administration, was the first.

As reported on Tuesday by Raleigh, North Carolina, News & Observer:

Under Regan, DEQ created part of the state’s clean energy plan. He called for a drastic reduction in private sector greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality in 2050, as well as accelerating innovation in clean energy to create economic opportunities in rural and urban areas of the state.
Earlier this year, Duke Energy agreed to clean up the largest coal ash in U.S. history as part of a legal agreement with DEQ, one of the highlights of Regan’s tenure. Duke agreed to dig about 80 million tons of coal ash at six sites.

His tenure in the state agency also included the 2018 creation of the Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Council.

“If Regan is finally Biden’s election and the U.S. Senate confirms it, he will be in family political territory,” Lisa Sorg wrote Wednesday on NC Policy Watch. She continued:

He would inherit an EPA that struggles with challenges similar to those faced by the Department of Environmental Quality when he became secretary nearly four years ago: a decimated budget, demoralized staff, previous leadership that favored the industry over the solid sciences, countless regulatory setbacks, and a politically divided legislative body that uses the ropes of the bag as punishment.

While Regan garnered praise from some environmental groups cited by Sorg, others suggested that Regan has not taken enough on the polluting industries. Sorg added:

“He’s a great person, but I don’t think he’s done enough for us with PFAS,” perfluorinated compounds, said Emily Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear. “I understand the agency is understaffed and understaffed. But the agency has made decisions that are not related to these things. We have struggled a lot, but we have received so little.”
He cited the consent order between DEQ, Cape Fear River Watch and Chemours, which opponents of the deal have pointed out, which is weak. It specifically covers only upstream pollution, including private well owners near the Chemours plant in Cumberland and Bladen counties; downstream communities that are in public water systems in New Hanover and Brunswick counties feel excluded.
“There are a quarter of a million people still exposed,” Donovan said. “Seeing the state treat municipal taxpayers other than private well owners is not a good response. They left municipalities alone to wage our own battles.”

Criticism of Regan’s background extended beyond his action at PFAS.

According to the revolving door project:

Regan supported the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline despite strong opposition from environmental, faith, justice, community and indigenous groups. His department also failed to respond to recommendations from the Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Council to stop construction expansion. He also allowed a major liquid natural gas facility to be built in the middle of Lumbee, the largest indigenous tribe in eastern Mississippi, and was accused of failing to initiate public speaking or government consultation before of the construction of the facility.
Regan headed a department that approved all wood pellet industry permit applications in North Carolina, despite the industry’s massive deforestation issues and failed to address the critical environmental issues related to the removal of wood pellets. pig waste.

Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen, however, welcomed Regan as a possible head of the EPA, saying in a statement on Thursday that “he has dedicated his career to environmental work, advancing clean energy, fighting for change. climate change and tackling coal ash pollution “.

“As an EPA administrator, Regan will play a key role in resolving the climate crisis and protecting the health of all communities,” she added. “We will do everything in our power to support and push Regan to repair the damage caused by the Trump administration, take bold action on climate solutions, and seriously address the environmental injustices that have been allowed to last too long.”

Lori Lodes, executive director of Climate Power 2020, similarly applauded the election, calling Regan “the outstanding choice of the Biden team” and saying he had an understanding of the daring climate action that this moment requires ”.

Lisa Ramsden, Greenpeace’s senior climate activist, also welcomed the election and praised Biden for not going with Nichols ’rumored previous selection.

“Biden was given the opportunity to choose an EPA administrator who would prioritize justice for the communities most affected by fossil-fueled pollution,” said Ramsden, who urged Regan to “go far beyond the mere reversal of the Trump administration’s setbacks “and to boldly call on oil and gas companies for the unfair impacts of their pollution”.

“While leading the Department of Environmental Quality in North Carolina, Regan rightly pushed for Duke Energy’s massive utility to clean up its toxic coal ash and fought Trump’s offshore oil drilling plans. But he has a “Mixed track record on environmental justice issues in the state. Protect communities from the health impacts of living near pig farms and approve multiple permits for the carbon – intensive wood pellet industry,” he said.

“Going forward,” Ramsden said, “Regan and the rest of the Biden-Harris administration need to pair their high-level rhetoric on environmental justice with consistent action.”

It is republished with permission from Common Dreams.