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Roberts appointed administrator for the EPA western region

Release Date: 3/6/2002
Contact Information:
202-564-7818

      Denver -- Robert E. Roberts, Executive Director of the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) for the past seven years, has been appointed by Administrator Christie Whitman to be Administrator of EPA’s Region 8, based in Denver, which is responsible for Agency matters in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
“Robbie Roberts has a broad background and demonstrated leadership in dealing with environmental matters at the state and local level. He will bring to EPA’s western regional operation a clear understanding of government, policy, and the importance of teamwork in getting things done,” said Whitman. “I look forward to working with him as we move forward in our efforts to make the air cleaner, the water purer and the land better protected.”

ECOS is the national, non-partisan, non-profit association, established as a clearing house of information for state and territorial environment commissioners and to articulate state positions to the Congress, federal agencies and the public. Roberts was the first Executive Director.

From 1990 to 1995, Roberts was Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a cabinet level position in South Dakota. In that position, he served on two national EPA advisory groups dealing with the impact of environmental programs on small towns and local government. He is a member of the National Environmental Policy Commission, established by the Congressional Black Caucus in 2001 to address environmental justice, public health and economic development issues.

Roberts, 59, was an Air Force officer from 1967 to 1990, retiring with the rank of Colonel, after serving as base commander for the largest operational base in the Strategic Air Command. He graduated with distinction from the Air Command and Staff College and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and a masters degree in public administrator from Auburn University. He completed executive training at Duke University.