Michael Regan, known for promoting environmental justice during his tenure as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced his departure from the role effective December 31. This timing comes just a few weeks shy of President Joe Biden’s term concluding.
In a message circulated to employees on Friday, Regan expressed pride in the agency’s achievements, particularly in tackling climate change, minimizing air and water pollutants, and allocating substantial funds through the administration’s historic climate legislation aimed at promoting clean energy initiatives. Regan emphasized that these actions significantly reduced harmful greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, providing vital economic and health advantages for communities historically burdened by pollution. Furthermore, he highlighted the creation of numerous jobs and lowered household expenses.
As the first Black individual to lead the EPA, Regan emphasized the elevation of environmental justice during his administration, ensuring that it remained a priority in decision-making processes. To underline his commitment, he embarked on a “Journey to Justice” tour in 2021 that spanned from Mississippi to Texas. This five-day journey, which included stops in Jackson, Miss., New Orleans, and Houston, was aimed at drawing attention to low-income minority communities suffering from the adverse effects of persistent industrial pollution.
A native of North Carolina, Regan, 48, previously led the state’s Department of Environmental Quality before stepping into the EPA role in early 2021. He has indicated plans to return to North Carolina with his family following his departure.
In his absence, Jane Nishida, the agency’s assistant administrator for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs, will take over as acting administrator, while Regan’s chief of staff, Dan Utech, will assume the role of acting deputy administrator.
Senator Tom Carper, a Democrat from Delaware and the outgoing chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, characterized Regan as possessing both a compassionate nature and astute intelligence, praising him as a “good steward” of the planet. Carper acknowledged the challenges Regan faced during his tenure, including the need to restore morale and prioritize scientific rigor and enforcement, as well as replenishing the workforce after a mass exodus under former President Donald Trump.
“He wasted no time once confirmed,” Carper noted, commending Regan for facilitating the allocation of billions from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. According to Carper, Regan lead the EPA “with compassion and skill,” significantly advancing policies aimed at environmental justice to safeguard the health of all Americans.
During his tenure, Regan communicated gratitude to President Biden for appointing him, reflecting on his unexpected journey back to the EPA after a decade of professional growth. He noted the agency’s substantial progress in recent years, particularly concerning the removal of lead pipes from various communities and ensuring the safety of drinking water for millions across the U.S. Furthermore, Regan mentioned the agency’s proactive measures against “forever chemicals” such as PFAS, pledging to protect the populace from pollution found in everyday products, drinking water, and children’s play areas.
In response to the rollback of environmental protections during the previous administration, Regan stated that the EPA revitalized enforcement efforts, holding polluters accountable for cleaning up contaminated sites across the nation. Additionally, the agency successfully prohibited hazardous substances like asbestos and TCE (trichloroethylene), while addressing both environmental and public health crises across the country within the last year.
Regan also highlighted the recruitment of thousands of new employees, including many scientists who had departed during Trump’s administration. As the incoming president-elect, who has appointed former New York Representative Lee Zeldin for the EPA administrator role, has signaled intentions to reduce environmental regulations significantly upon taking office next month, Regan conveyed his optimism to EPA staff. He reassured them that the important work of ensuring public health and environmental safety continues, expressing faith in their dedication to these critical tasks.
