Now Reading
Senate confirms Environmental Prosecutor to Key EPA Post by Bipartisan Group

Senate confirms Environmental Prosecutor to Key EPA Post by Bipartisan Group

Bipartisan group pushes Senate to confirm environmental prosecutor to key EPA post | WFAE 90.7

An ex-Justice Department official from both parties is urging the Senate for the advancement of the nomination former federal prosecutor David UhlmannTo lead a major office of the Environmental Protection Agency that combats pollution through the legal process.

These officials were in senior positions under the six previous presidents and have extensive experience in environmental law practice. A strong partnership between the EPA & Justice Department is vital for public health and law enforcement purposes.

The EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance “protects communities from harmful polluting and ensures a level playing field so that law-abiding businesses do not have a competitive edge over unscrupulous polluters.” They wrote in a letter Chuck Schumer, D.NY, Senate Majority leader, and Mitch McConnell R-KY, Senate Minority Leader.

Uhlmann, who was a federal prosecutor specializing in environmental issues for 17 years, is now a law professor at Michigan and leads the Environmental Crimes Project.

Uhlmann was an attorney who prosecuted violators in the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act during his tenure at Justice.

He was the leader of several cases that rose in national prominence, including one that involved West Memphis residents who lived close to a hazardous waste dump for many years. Uhlmann also tried an Idaho case where a 20-year old suffered permanent brain damage from his company’s illegal disposal of cyanide waste.

Uhlmann testified last January that “I have dedicated my career to seeking justice in communities exposed to harmful polluting and ensuring all Americans can breathe clean water and breathe clean air.” “Our nation’s environmental laws offer exceptional tools for improving the lives and fulfilling our obligations as stewards for the environment for future generation,” Uhlmann testified.

In partnership with the EPA, earlier this month, the DOJ Launched a new office for environmental justice. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the unit would prioritize cases that have the greatest impact on communities most affected by environmental harm.

The White House Nominated formallyUhlmann to fill the EPA position in June 2021. Advocates want the Senate’s immediate action before it pauses for midterm election campaigns or turns to other priorities.

Copyright 2022 NPR. For more information, visit https://www.npr.org

View Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.