Biden’s EPA pick draws reaction

Regan

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate Michael Regan to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Regan is currently secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) was among the first industry organizations to react to the news, with president Dennis Slater issuing written remarks.

“The Association of Equipment Manufacturers applauds President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Michael Regan to be the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency,” Slater says. “Equipment manufacturers are committed to serving as catalysts for change in the manufacturing sector and building a better and more sustainable future for our nation. Our industry is uniquely familiar with integrating innovative technologies into our operations, whether it includes precision agriculture techniques to ensure more efficient harvests for farmers or deploying smart technology to promote sustainable construction practices in the execution of infrastructure projects.

“We look forward to working with EPA Administrator-designate Regan to advance a shared vision of a world in which all Americans’ basic needs – such as shelter, clean water, education and sustainable and reliable energy – are fulfilled,” Slater adds.

Interior Department

In another selection with impacts on aggregate producers, Biden is expected to nominate Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico) to head the Department of the Interior. In a recent P&Q interview, Michael Johnson, president and CEO of the National, Stone, Sand & Gravel Association, noted that he was awaiting an announcement on Department of the Interior because the industry needs a leader it can effectively cooperate with.