Sierra Club Statement On Governor Christine Whitman As Environmental Protection Agency Administrator From Sierra Club Wednesday, December 20, 2000 Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director: Governor Christie Whitman has a mixed record on the environment, but on balance we believe the Sierra Club could work with her if she is appointed EPA Administrator. We applaud the leadership she demonstrated to protect New Jersey's open space and to strengthen our nation's clean-air standards. Unfortunately, Governor Whitman also oversaw severe cuts to her state's environmental law enforcement efforts, which cause us deep concern. Protecting a quarter-million acres of New Jersey's open space, Governor Whitman worked to safeguard the Sterling Forest and other unspoiled treasures from developers, curbing sprawl and conserving the state's heritage for future generations to enjoy. In addition, Governor Whitman stood at the forefront of the clean air fight when she pushed the nation's governors to support efforts to reduce soot and smog air pollution. The EPA Administrator's primary responsibility is to enforce the nation's environmental standards, but by cutting New Jersey's environmental budget, Governor Whitman hampered her state's efforts. As EPA Administrator, Gov. Whitman would have a duty to fight for funding to effectively enforce the standards that protect our families from pollution. For that reason, we hope the Senate will press her about the need to enforce strong, mandatory environmental standards. Governor Whitman shows far more promise than many of the other names floated for this position. Whomever the choice, one of the first challenges the next EPA Administrator will face is holding General Electric responsible for cleaning up the PCBs they dumped in the Hudson River. From forcing corporate polluters to clean up their messes to advocating smart-growth solutions to suburban sprawl, we need an EPA Administrator and White House committed to protecting America's environment for our families and for our future. # # # For more information, contact: Allen Mattison Sierra Club 202-675-7903 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]