New EPA Administrator to be...

Thanks for this info David. She appears qualified and has the correct experience, but this lady I am not familiar with. I must investigate this a little more, so no opinion yet. But I am off to YOUR link, which I thank you for. Back later. Ellen B

I am not familiar with her, will have to do some research

Here is a profile on Lisa Jackson from the April 2, 2008 Princeton Alumni Weekly

I am back on your page the second time, and my first comment is not here. Maybe a posting delay? I went to the link you provided, after reading it, she does have a lot of credentials, and if that counts, (they are all top of the line-Work experience, education, etc.) then we may be ok. She will not however be working for me. I would think Obama would get rid of anyone who does not measure up things are such a mess. I think he puts a lot of thought, personal thought, into his selections. Hope this comment and your ten stay this time. Ellen B

Everyone will remember that Christine Todd Whitman, then Governor of New Jersey, was George W. Bush's first EPA Administrator. So why are New Jersey people being picked for EPA? One reason might be that New Jersey has a large density of industrial facilities (especially oil refineries and chemical plants), which not surprisingly has resulted in a huge number of Superfund sites for such a small state by area.

Ellen - I see an earlier comment by you. First one on the list. The following is what you said, was there another one?

"Thanks for this info David. She appears qualified and has the correct experience, but this lady I am not familiar with. I must investigate this a little more, so no opinion yet. But I am off to YOUR link, which I thank you for. Back later. Ellen B"

Your article has been featured in debateclub.gather.com

David before I can answer I have to do a little more research.

Thanks for the info. I don't know her.

Thanks for featuring me Phyllis!

I admit that I don't know much about her either. She is currently on Obama's transition team reviewing the EPA. Having worked in New Jersey for several years myself, I can say that the state is certainly a good training ground for dealing with environmental (and political) issues.

Things are moving along on his picks.

thank you for sharing this info david.

You're welcome Tammie

Still trying to find out more about her.

I don't know her and I voted for Obama but I feel that each person that he picks needs to go through the vetting process. No rubber stamps and low bar setting for anyone which was one of the reasons the Bush Administration was as bad as it was and is. I only want the best and brightest and the class dunce need not apply- not say she is but vett her like everone else.

She seems to have a good reputation as a manager in NJ. Working on more information but this hasn't really hit the MSM yet so hard to get it all.

She will be named though, according to the folks I know who know the folks who know. :)

I read in Plenty Magazine that the choice apparently is between California Air Resources Board (CARB) chair Mary Nichols and Lisa Jackson , who served as vice-president on the board of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

My fear is that, because of her RGGI background, Lisa Jackson will support a cap-and-trade program at the expense of other alternatives, such as raising fuel efficiency standards and emission taxes. As you know, I advocate a framework of feebates. I expect Mary Nichols to appreciate feebates more, given that CARB is proposing feebates as part of its climate change proposals.

But I must add that I don't know the various candidates well enough to anticipate their position on these issues. Moreover, I think it's inappropriate for the head of a government department or agency to be a political appointment. There still is some time left before Obama takes office. I would like to see Congress and Obama spend some time to develop a comprehensive energy plan by evaluating the various policy instruments. Car manufacturers are asking for bail-outs, and the reason why Detroit is in trouble is that they have been lobbying the Bush administration to sabotage efforts to clean up the industry. Instead of handing out money to continue Detroit to go on with business as usual, Obama should look at CHANGE as he promised. Now is the time to evaluate the various policy instruments on their merits. A comprehensive energy plan that has identified the most effective policy instruments will also allow Obama to show leadership in international negotiations on action on climate change.

Hi Sam - I think I agree with the Plenty Magazine article saying there was a concern with picking Nichols because of the number of Californians already involved with environmental and climate change issues in Congress. It's probably not a good idea giving that much power to the California contingent.

Like you, I don't really know Jackson very well. So there is a lot to learn.

BTW Sam, heads of the various Departments are inherently political in that they must carry out the priorities of the current laws and the Administration. Steve Johnson, the outgoing EPA Administrator, was a career EPA scientist who floated to the top and was seen as someone who could actually keep the views of Agency scientists in mind (i.e., protect the Agency from too much White House influence). By all measures, however, EPA personnel (many of whom I know) felt that he rose to the top because of his political skills and not because of his ability to manage. Morale has been quite bad at the Agency for several years, and just having Obama elected has already given many staffers hope. Of course, we'll see what the reality will bring.

As for evaluating the various policy options, the transition team is doing just that, along with figuring out where things stand now and helping to find key staffers for the various agencies and offices. Obviously these things will take time.

The thing that I'm hoping to see is more transparency in the decision-making process, i.e., give all the stakeholders some input to the policy development. I notice that there has been a concerted effort from Tom Daschle and others to begin an interactive evaluation of current and future health concerns (with respect to his likely appointment as Health and Human Services Secretary). They are putting in place mechanisms to collect input from public and association groups, to be used to determine priorities, potential solutions, and policy. While we'll have to see whether this works, it seems to be a pretty good start to me.

That is my comment David, thanks for asking about it. I have joined the Obama-Biden Transition Project. Just reading what is being asked of the ordinary citizen is making this exciting. We can be very involved. The link is Change.gov:The Office of the President-Elect. I love the site, and you can put in your two cents, plus you can learn a lot. I will watch it for news. I loved your last comment. You will like this. One thing I noticed about this site, and it's sister sites, the "Project" asks for Our opinions, and some heavy hitters who will work with Obama are on there, stating what they want to hear, and how they will use it. It appears he is asking them, to ask US what we think. Gotta see if this has meat or not. I am going to research this lady a little more, and her contender. And you are right about putting mechanisms in place, they are there for us also. Is this too good to be true. Let us hope not. Ellen B

I reviewed all three names given above and Lisa Jackson does appear to be the better candidate of the three.
She seems passionate for preserving peoples health and welfare from careless and irresponsible pollution practices of companies.
It's refreshing to see our new President is concerned from the first day on resolving environmental and climate problems which were either left to fester or even created by this outgoing administration. Take Bush's latest 'lame-duck' move @ Bush To Ease "Mountaintop Mining" Rule

It's quite possible the Obama administration and the incoming congress may not be able to undo these actions. It's despicable.

Ha! Ha! I got so involved, I meant I signed up to be notified of different "questions" being asked. Not joined per se! :)) I have been very busy today. Ellen B

Ellen B, I've gone to www.change.gov and looked for info on how to participate in this "Project" but, only find this: Obama-Biden Transition Project

Can you explain how you are participating in this project? Do you register somewhere ?
Can you provide a link?

Good article!

Thanks for posting to Get 2 The Points

cool

I know nothing about her. And now we are going to have a "climate czar"? This is getting ridiculous.

She seems highly qualified! Wr shall see on the short run already as she has some vert tough files to deals with.
BTW, next week MagneGas should start a campaign. If you are interested in how to recycle used waters (municipal, manures, loaded with oils) to get energy and clean water go to www.magnegas.com.

This is a wonderful addition to our group The Best Original Photos, Art and Writing for 2008 click here

well, whoever or whatever she is, Ms. Jackson has been in the line of work of actually PROTECTING the environment. That will be a pleasant change from the Bush political appointees who were hired because of the talents at PUNKING and SCAMMING the environment. I am sick of the foxes running the henhouse bit.

I'm not so sure about her. I need to know more about her record with the Black Bears. Someone in NJ was allowing a very cowardly bear hunt in which people waited until the bears were hibernating, then pulled them out of their dens to murder them. I have to find out if she was involved in this decision.

I do know that Robert Kennedy Jr. would be hell on wheels, taking the highroad, if he were to be offered the position and agree to take it on.

Richard,

I have had company. I am going to e-mail you. For those interested the, "Obama-Biden Transition" is a great way to get information. Be sure to check "submit" right after the yellow boxes at the top of the page. You can give your personal imput on many issues, and each nominated by Obama to lead a specific post, say Bill Richardson, has a spot you can tell a story related to an issue, EPA, Homeland Security, Health Care, and your rep. is right there.

It is also good to scroll down the left side of the page and hit several of the subjects. I got all the way to Iconocast, and the "philidelphia inquirer" articles about Lisa Jackson and a few others, in the running. I hope this is helpful, I have company and am having a time of it. Back later. You should be surprised with this page.

There is one more: GSATransitionDirectory. All taken from the Obama-Biden Transition Page. I hope this helps. Will be back with more when they leave. I am getting "coffee" :) ellen b

Thanks all for your input.

Carolion - I'm not particularly familiar with the black bear situation in New Jersey, but here is some relevant information: Q&A on Black Bears

Andrea - The "climate czar" position is less certain, but I'm guessing there will be something like it. Basically it's just an advisor on the issue, just like there are advisors on virtually every other major issue.

How many major issues are there? And what may be a major issue to someone, might be a non-issue to someone else.

Chick - good point. Certainly climate change was not considered a particularly major issue for the Bush Administration. With the economy currently in the situation it is, economic advisors are going to be very important to the incoming Obama Administration.

A great pick. How many times are we going to say that every time he picks someone?

David - Based on what I have read, I think that she appears to be qualified for the position. Personally, I have been very pleased with the people he has picked so far. He seems to really be thinking things over, and doing a good job of it.

The key thing about Lisa Jackson, which is different from many past administrators is that she is an engineer, not a lawyer. I have many contacts at EPA, and will check to see what they think, although my first reaction is positive. And no, she had nothing to do with the Black bear story.

Interesting

Thanks all

yes

Looks like a very good choice that I know nothing about except what I;ve learned here, and all that info seems positive. The EPA needs a break after their current administrator, who, no matter what his past, couldn't stand up to the anti-intellectual, anti-science Bush White House (if he wanted to, which isn't clear). You are right about morale being low in the EPA. I hope this gives them a boost (a funding increase would help. too).

James - Morale at EPA seems to have been given a boost just from the hopefulness following the election. Reality will temper that as the economic situation makes it difficult to expect much new funding, and the laws that the EPA enforces are still the laws. But sometimes change is good in itself.

Let us know what you find out Sy, from your friends at EPA.

Some additional information on Jackson: As commissioner of the New Jersey DEP, she crafted that state's Global Warming Response Act.

Looks like an excellent choice. I also remember Carol Browner very well from the Clinton administration. She would be an excellent "climate czar". Any word on Obama's choice for Energy Secretary?

Steve - I haven't heard anything on the Energy Secretary...I'll see if I can find out.

thanks

George - Perhaps you could explain the goose stepping thought? I'm not sure I follow you. Thanks.

I've been waiting for this to actually be announced, but it seems I may have to wait a little longer. According to Politico, "Obama may hold off on making any environmental appointments until after international climate talks end next week in Poland..." [i.e., that conference ends this Friday the 12th]

Looks like a long list of potential nominees for energy secretary. And although Al Gore is not on that list (and is not interested in the position), Obama will be meeting with the former VP today.

Thanks for the link Steve. Seems there isn't any one person leading the pack for Energy Secretary.

I think we'll get an announcement this week of Obama's "environmental" team (Interior, Energy, CEQ, EPA). [If not this week, then early next week]

The meeting with Gore should be interesting. Obviously Gore isn't seeking, nor would likely accept, any actual position in the Administration. But no doubt he'll have an ear when he wants to make a point.

Steve - I found this in the news this evening regarding the Energy Secretary.

"But officials close to the transition team privately say that Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize winning physicist, appears to be increasingly on track to become energy secretary.

A Chinese-American, Chu is a professor of physics and molecular and cell biology at the University of California-Berkeley and has been the director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since 2004, where he has pushed aggressively for research into alternative energy as a way to combat global warming.

It is the oldest of the Energy Department's national laboratories, but does only unclassified work and in recent years under Chu has been at the center of research into biofuels and solar technologies. Chu has been a strong advocate for the need to engage scientists in the search for ways to combat global warming by replacing fossil fuels with other energy sources such as biofuels and the sun."

And this:

"President-elect Barack Obama has selected a deputy mayor of Los Angeles to lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality, transition officials said Wednesday."

Seems it is settled:

Obama Names Energy and Environment Team

Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy
Carol Browner, to oversee a new White House post on climate and the environment
Nancy Sutley, Council on Environmental Quality
Lisa Jackson, Environmental Protection Agency

Lots of well qualified appointments give one hope at least.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for coming by

Jenn - It looks like the President-elect has finally caught up with me and officially announced Lisa Jackson as EPA head, along with other energy and environmental positions. I would certainly hope they will be more proactive in dealing with issues than in recent years, along with a balanced view of what are in fact priorities.

Appreciate the info and feel that his choices are good!

We seriously need to get on with becoming energy independent. Utilizing alternative energy sources would not only lessen our dependence on foreign oil it would create cheap, clean energy, as well as create millions of badly needed new green collar jobs. This past year the high cost of fuel seriously damaged our economy and society. It destroyed every imaginable budget from national to state to the local school. While some are foolish enough to be doing the happy dance around the lower prices at the pumps they are totally missing out on the news that OPEC is planning to cut production and raise the price per barrel back up to between 75-100 bucks again. I just read Jeff Wilson's new book The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now. you can see it @ www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com It would cost the equivalent of 60 cents per gallon to charge and drive an electric vehicle. The electricity to charge the vehicle could come partially or totally from electricity generated by wind or solar. One of the most fascinating facts in the book is that ...If all gasoline cars, trucks, and suv’s instead had plug-in electric drive trains, the amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota. Why don't we use some of the billions in bail out money to bail us out of our dependence on foreign oil? We must move forward as nation towards energy independence. Oil is finite, it will run out one day in the not too distant future.

Thanks Sherry. It seems that the incoming Administration will have a different view on the future than the outgoing Administration. But change isn't easy, especially when it is something so fundamentally interconnected as our reliance on fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal). It's going to take both time and a concerted effort to find and put us on the right path forward, which means an honest accounting of all the options, all the advantages and disadvantages, and all the interrelated issues that impact the decision-making process.

It should be an interesting 2009.

True, it should be an interesting new year. I am not really up on politics , so I will have to get more informed.

Thanks for stopping by, Donald.

Browner's selection is a serious fax pas for Mr. Obama.


From Carol Browner's Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Browner

"During Browner's tenure, there were many reports from African American employees of racism directed at them from a network of "good old boys" who dominated the agency's middle management layers.[16] The most known of these involved policy specialist Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, who in 1997 filed suit against the agency; in 2000 the EPA was found guilty of discrimination against her and she was awarded $300,000.[16][17] Coleman-Adebayo said that Browner allowed the problems to persist rather than trying to clean them up: "She wasn't at all sympathetic to complaints about civil rights abuses. We were treated like Negroes, to use a polite term. We were put in our place."[16] In an October 2000 Congressional hearing on the matter,[18] Browner appeared near tears as she said minorities had tripled in the agency's senior ranks during her time as administrator, but she was unable to explain why the culprits in Coleman-Adebayo's case had not been dismissed and in some cases had been promoted.[16] A month earlier, Browner had asked for the Office of the Inspector General to linvestigate a statement by an African American environmental specialist that she had been ordered to clean a toilet in 1993 in advance of Browner's arrival at an EPA event.[19] This followed a rally in which dozens of EPA employees protested what they saw as rampant bias at the agency.[19] Congressional dissatisfaction with the EPA situation and its treatment of Coleman-Adebayo led to passage of the No-FEAR Act in 2002, which discourages federal managers and supervisors from engaging in unlawful discrimination and retaliation.[17]"

Kevin - I doubt that case is particularly relevant to the current situation. By the way, I checked the Wiki link and that passage has apparently been removed from the Wiki entry for Browner, apparently at some point today (the date on the "Talk Page" says Dec 30, 2008). The primary reason given for it's removal was that it was one-sided and a "political rant." The intent, it appears, is to reincorprate the substantive factual record of the incident into the Wiki but without the perceived bias.

In reading what I can find on the case, Coleman-Adebayo won her discrimination case against EPA. It appears that the case wasn't specifically accusing Browner of discrimination, but rather people who worked above Coleman-Adebayo; Browner was included because as Administrator she was seen as too slow to recognize and address the apparent prevailing atmosphere of discrimination at the Agency.

I can vouch for the fact that African-Americans are currently well represented at EPA, and my sense is disproportionately so relative to representation in the private firms and scientific associations to which I have knowledge. I don't know why this is so, and it is a question I have asked myself for many years. However, I can say from personal experience that representation of minorities in the private sector of the scientific fields does seem to have improved dramatically over the years. With the first minority President, and especially one who values both science and personal responsibility, I would have to say that I think things should rather promising as we move forward.

I suppose being from New Jersey she should know something about pollution.

Having worked in New Jersey for many years on hazwaste sites and chemical plants/refineries, I can vouch for the fact that it has lots of opportunities to learn about pollution.