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This is the VOA Special English Environment Report.
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President Bush has nominated thegovernor of Utah, Mike Leavitt, to head the Environmental ProtectionAgency. Christine Todd Whitman resigned as administrator and leftoffice in June.
Mister Leavitt, also a Republican, is fifty-two years old. He hasserved the longest of all the current governors in the UnitedStates. Utah voters first elected him to lead the western state innineteen-ninety-two. He is in his third term.
Mister Leavitt told the New York Times about two of theenvironmental efforts he considers among his most successful. Onewas his work with a group to reduce air pollution over the GrandCanyon in Arizona and other national parks. That effort involvedthirteen states, thirteen Indian tribes and three federal agencies.
He also noted a major cleanup effort recently completed toreclaim water from a copper mine near Salt Lake City. The governorbrought together environmentalists, government officials and miningofficials. As a result, he says, the project was completed in justfive years. It also avoided the need to spend huge amounts offederal money.
Among other environmental issues, the governor has opposedfederal efforts to store nuclear waste in Utah.
Mister Leavitt supports a set of ideas for protecting air, landand water. He and a former Democratic governor of Oregon put forwardthese ideas called "Enlibra." The Western Governors Associationaccepts Enlibra as its policy. Mister Leavitt has led that group.
The ideas call for working together to seek a balance inenvironmental decisions. Mister Leavitt says the costs of programsmust be weighed against the good they will do.
The Utah governor is generally described as a moderate. Noteveryone, though, is pleased with his record on the environment. Alot of environmental leaders say he has not done an especially goodjob.
Critics point to the governor's plan to build a major roadthrough wetlands near the Great Salt Lake. A federal court stoppedthat project. Critics also say Mister Leavitt is too willing topermit the use of public lands for oil drilling, mining andtree-cutting.
His nomination to become the next head of the EnvironmentalProtection Agency requires approval by the Senate. The Senate plansto hold confirmation hearings in September.
This VOA Special English Environment Report was written by MarioRitter.