Bush nominates William Wehrum to senior air quality post at EPA

Washington (Platts)--23Feb2006

President Bush Thursday nominated William Wehrum to be the Environmental
Protection Agency's assistant administrator for air and radiation, the EPA
post that is primarily responsible for air-pollution regulations affecting the
power sector. 

     Wehrum has been serving as EPA's acting air chief since July 2005, when
Jeff Holmstead, who previously held the job, announced his retirement. Wehrum
has helped to craft several major power-sector regulations since coming to the
air office, including the proposed fine-particle pollution standard that EPA
unveiled in December. 

     Many environmental groups have criticized Wehrum since he took over in
July, saying he is more concerned with protecting industry profits than public
health. Sen Jim Jeffords (Independent-Vermont) the ranking member of the
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, refrained from criticizing
Wehrum personally Wednesday. But Jeffords, who sits on the panel that will
hold Wehrum's confirmation hearing, said the Bush administration's record on
clean-air issues falls "woefully short" of what is should be. "I look forward
to examining [Wehrum's] record and qualifications during the upcoming
nomination process," Jeffords said.

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