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

The news sparked a string of responses from environmentalists, including praise that the apparent choice spelled rejection of Mary Nichols, chairman of the California Air Resources Board, who faced setbacks from progressives over perceived shortcomings in communities at the forefront of the dirty industry. Other green campaigners responded with a critical look at the possible nomination, pointing to what they consider to be Regan’s “mixed track record on environmental justice.”

According to The Associated Press, Biden’s choice of Regan was “confirmed on Thursday by a person who was familiar with the selection process and who had no authority. [to] they discussed the matter publicly before the official announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. “

CNN, quoting information from people familiar with the case, reported that Regan would be formally announced as the choice on Saturday.

Regan, 44, has served as Secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality since 2017. Previously, he worked for the federal EPA’s air quality and energy programs during the Clinton and Bush administrations. If confirmed by the Senate, Regan would be the country’s second Black EPA administrator; Lisa Jackson, who served in the Obama administration, was the first.

As the Raleigh, North Carolina, News & Observer reported Tuesday:

Under Regan, DEQ created part of the state’s Clean Energy Plan. It called for a drastic reduction in private sector greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and the achievement of carbon neutrality by 2050, and for accelerating clean energy innovation to create economic opportunities in rural and urban parts of the state .
Earlier this year, Duke Energy agreed to the largest coal ash cleanup in US history as part of a legal settlement with DEQ, one of the highlights of Regan’s tenure. Duke agreed to excavate nearly 80 million tons of coal ash from six sites.

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

“If Regan is ultimately Biden’s choice and confirmed by the US Senate, he will be in familiar political territory,” Lisa Sorg wrote on NC Policy Watch Wednesday. She continued:

He would inherit an EPA grappling with challenges similar to those the Department of Environmental Quality faced when he became secretary nearly four years ago: a decimated budget, demoralized staff, an earlier leadership that favored industry over sound science, numerous regulatory rollbacks, and a politically divided legislative body using the wallet as punishment.

While Regan received accolades from some environmental groups cited by Sorg, others suggested that Regan hasn’t tackled the polluting industries vigorously enough. Sorg added:

“He’s a great person, but I don’t think he has done enough for us on PFAS” – perfluorinated compounds – said Emily Donovan, co-founder of Clean Cape Fear. ‘I understand that the agency is understaffed and underfunded. But the agency has made decisions that have nothing to do with those things. We fought so hard, but received so little. ‘
She pointed out that the consent warrant between DEQ, Cape Fear River Watch and Chemours, which opponents of the agreement have noted, is weak. Specifically, it only covers upstream pollution, including owners of private sources near the Chemours plant in Cumberland and Bladen counties; communities downstream on public water systems in New Hanover and Brunswick counties feel left out.
“A quarter of a million people are still exposed,” said Donovan. “It’s not a good answer to see the state treating municipal taxpayers differently from private well owners. They left municipalities to fend for our own struggles.”

Criticism of Regan’s background went beyond his action on PFAS.

According to the revolving door project:

Regan supported the controversial pipeline on the Atlantic coast despite strong opposition from the environment, faith, justice, community and indigenous groups. His department also failed to respond to recommendations from the Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board to halt construction expansion. He also allowed a large liquefied natural gas plant to be built in the middle of Lumbee Territory, the largest indigenous tribe east of the Mississippi, and was accused of failing to initiate public debate or consultation between the government and government before the facility was built.
Regan led a division that approved every permit application of the North Carolina wood pellet industry, despite the industry’s massive deforestation problems, and failed to solve critical environmental problems related to pig waste disposal.

However, Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen welcomed Regan as a possible EPA chief, saying in a statement Thursday that he has “dedicated his career to the environment, promoting clean energy, fighting climate change, and tackling coal ash pollution.”

As the EPA administrator, Regan will play a key role in solving the climate crisis and protecting the health of all communities, she added. “We will do everything we can to support and urge Regan to repair the damage done by the Trump administration, take bold action on climate solutions and really address the environmental injustice that has been allowed to last too long.”

The choice was similarly welcomed by Lori Lodes, Executive Director of Climate Power 2020, who called Regan “an excellent choice of the Biden team” and said he “has an understanding of the bold climate action that this moment requires.”

Lisa Ramsden, a senior climate activist at Greenpeace, also welcomed the choice and praised Biden for not following the earlier rumors that Nichols was being elected.

“Biden gave himself the opportunity to choose an EPA administrator who will prioritize justice for the communities most affected by fossil fuel pollution,” said Ramsden, urging Regan “to go much further. then simply undo the Trump administration “rollbacks” and boldly call oil and gas companies about the unjust consequences of their pollution. “

While leading the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Regan rightly urged major utility company Duke Energy to clean up its toxic coal ash and fought Trump’s offshore oil drilling. 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, ”she said.

“Come on,” Ramsden said, “Regan and the rest of the Biden-Harris administration must combine their lofty rhetoric about environmental justice with consistent action.”

Reposted with permission from Common Dreams.