A former employee of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is now serving as a regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). President Joseph Biden appointed Lisa Garcia as the agency’s administrator for Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight Indian nations, EPA […]
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A former employee of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is now serving as a regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
President Joseph Biden appointed Lisa Garcia as the agency’s administrator for Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight Indian nations, EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced Nov. 18.
In this role, Garcia works to lead the implementation of the Biden administration’s environmental agenda in the region.
“Lisa’s leadership will be instrumental to EPA’s work addressing the complicated intersection of environmental and economic challenges in Region 2,” Regan said. “She brings a wealth of experience in fighting for climate justice and equity that will be invaluable as we deliver on our mission to protect communities from Puerto Rico to the U.S. Virgin Islands, and in New Jersey and New York, from pollution.”
Earlier in her career, Garcia served as the director of environmental justice (EJ) and Indian affairs at the DEC and as assistant attorney general at the New York State Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau. She also previously served as a staff attorney at the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), the EPA said.
In her early days of taking over, Garcia visited Rome to mark the successful revitalization of the former Griffiss Air Force Base. A portion of the site was removed from the agency’s national priorities list in 2009 and is now functioning as a business and technology park.
About Garcia
Garcia is a lawyer who, over the past 20 years, has advocated for environmental and climate justice, the EPA said.
She was appointed to the EPA in 2009, serving as associate administrator and advisor to EPA Administrators Jackson and McCarthy. She helped to lead the team responsible for the creation and implementation of Plan EJ 2014 — EPA’s first EJ strategic plan — and the design of EJSCREEN.
Garcia then worked as VP for litigation at earthjustice, and in 2019, joined Grist magazine to lead a new program called Fix, Grist’s climate-solutions lab focused on “amplifying the voices” of climate-justice leaders.
Besides her roles in New York government, Garcia also previously worked as an associate professor at Rutgers Law School and as a legislative fellow for New Jersey U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli and New Jersey State Senator Byron Baer.
DEC reaction
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos on Nov. 18 issued a statement on the Garcia’s appointment as an EPA regional administrator
“I offer my sincere congratulations to my friend Lisa Garcia on her appointment as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 2 Administrator… With roots in New York, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico, and of course her years as DEC’s Director of Environmental Justice and Indian Affairs, Lisa is a highly accomplished, collaborative, and dedicated public servant. I welcome her leadership, partnership, and support to help address our most pressing environmental challenges, including the climate crisis, threats to air and water quality, and impacts to communities that for far too long have borne the brunt of environmental pollution. Lisa has the expertise and the experience to advance meaningful policy and landmark protections for our region and the nation. EPA’s Region 2 will be in good hands with Lisa at the regional helm.”