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CAROL BROWNER NAMES MINDY S. LUBBER AS REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR OF EPA NEW ENGLAND

Release Date: 03/16/2000
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

BOSTON - Carol M. Browner, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, today announced the appointment of Mindy S. Lubber as regional administrator of EPA New England. Lubber, who has been acting regional administrator since John DeVillars stepped down in January, was previously the deputy regional administrator. The appointment is effective today, March 16.

"Mindy Lubber brings outstanding environmental experience to this job," Browner said. "She is committed to ensuring that the Clinton/Gore Administration will continue to protect the public health and the environment of the people of New England."

In accepting the appointment, Lubber pledged to protect New England's environment and the public health of its families, and to do so in the most efficient way possible.

"I believe there is no more noble a calling than devoting ourselves to ensuring that families in New England have a safe and healthy future," said Lubber, who has two small children. "To this end, I pledge to achieve bottom line environmental results in the most efficient way possible for the taxpayer and to do so by building strong, meaningful partnerships with people from all walks of life and every corner of New England."

Lubber joined EPA in 1995 as a senior policy advisor and was named deputy regional administrator in 1998. As deputy regional administrator, she has been responsible for the administration and management of EPA New England, an office with a $450 million budget.

"Environmental protection has been arguably the single most successful example of progressive government of our generation," Lubber said. "When it comes to the environment - our air, water and land - it's substantially cleaner, healthier and safer than it was 20 years ago."

But, Lubber noted, significant challenges lie ahead: hazardous waste sites are still plentiful; waterways are threatened by failing septic systems and polluted runoff; significant numbers of children suffer from lead poisoning and asthma; and smog levels continue to pose health risks in the summer.

The new administrator pledged to achieve tangible environmental improvements through new and creative solutions at less cost to the taxpayer and greater benefit to the environment.

"Our work is far from finished," Lubber said. "Many communities and neighborhoods - especially in our cities -- have yet to share fully in the benefits of our environmental progress. We have environmental problems that were scarcely understood 30 years ago -- issues like sprawl and non-point source pollution. EPA New England is tackling these challenges with a vengeance and has become a leader in finding new ways to deal with them."

"I want to give New England residents the confidence to know that when they turn on their tap clear water will stream out; when they go outside, the air they breathe will be healthy and free of pollution, and when they go to the beach, their kids will splash in water that is safe and clean," Lubber added.

Other priorities of Lubber include:

• maintaining tough enforcement presence and coordinating those efforts with compliance assistance.
• aggressive cleanup of Superfund and Brownfields hazardous waste sites with a goal of redevelopment, new jobs and urban revitalization.
• protecting children's health.
• ensuring the long-term protection of drinking water supplies.
• cleaning up important natural resources such as the Charles River, Long Island Sound, Woonasquatucket River, Casco Bay and Lake Champlain.
• rebuilding New England cities and towns through the Livable Communities program, Brownfields cleanups and urban programs.
• working with states and industry to reduce ozone smog pollution, thus reducing emergency room hospital visits and respiratory ailments.

She was also a senior advisor to Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis. For a decade, Lubber worked at the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MassPIRG), serving as its director as well as chair of the board of directors. She has bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration as well as a law degree.