Statement on Jackson Leaving EPA: Washington’s Loss in NJ's Gain

Statement on Jackson Leaving EPA: Washington’s Loss in NJ's Gain Date : Thu, 27 Dec 2012 13:47:51 -0500

in NJ’s Gain

For Immediate Release
December 27, 2012 Contact:Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100

Statement on Jackson Leaving EPA: Washington’s Loss in NJ's Gain Administrator Lisa Jackson announced she is leaving the EPA next month.Jeff Tittel, Director of the NJ Sierra Club, released the following response:

"We are very sorry to see Lisa Jackson go.She has been an environmental champion and friend at the EPA and has been the best administrator that environmentalists have worked with in the EPA’s 40 year history.She has had many accomplishments as EPA administrator in cleaning up toxic sites, going after air pollution, protecting our water, air, and land. She passed the Soot, Mercury and CARE rules.She has a strong record at a time when moving the environment forward has been difficult."

"Lisa Jackson fought for the environment every day and we are concerned she may have left out of frustration.There are some big issues that we really need her leadership on like the Portland Power plant, the Keystone XL pipeline, fracking and the EPA fracking studies, and cleaning up after Hurricane Sandy.We know she will do good things, but she is leaving at a time when the environment is at a crossroads.The administration delayed the Smog Rule and has not been proactive on climate change.We hope in the future she will continue to be a strong voice for the environment."

"We are concerned that whoever replaces her will not be as strong a leader on environmental issues because she will be hard to replace.She was the one person who led the fight to get a moratorium on the Keystone XL pipeline and now she is leaving."

"When Jackson was DEP commissioner in New Jersey she passed the Water Quality Management Planning rules, stormwater and Flood Hazard Area rules which the Christie administration has been trying to roll back.She signed us up for RGGI and made our Energy Master Plan a leader on clean energy.She led the fight for these environmental improvements.She was not only our friend and champion but had to stand up to her own Governor to get these things done. She has been able to get things done with administrations that did not see the environment as a top issue.With Lisa you always knew where she stood and she is someone you could trust."

"Washington’s lost is New Jersey's gain.We believe she will have a future here whether it is working at a university or think tank on climate change and other environmental issues.We also believe she has a future in politics and elected office.We believe she will keep fighting for the environment and things she believes in." 

 --  Kate Millsaps Conservation Program Coordinator NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club 609-656-7612