EPA: Regional directors picked for Seattle, Kansas City offices 

Thursday, January 14, 2010
Robin Bravender, E&E reporter

The Obama administration has picked a Washington clean air official and a Kansas environmental studies professor to take the helm at U.S. EPA's regional offices in Seattle and Kansas City.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced yesterday that Dennis McLerran, executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, was chosen to lead the agency's Region 10 office based in Seattle. The region encompasses Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and native tribes.

Karl Boyd Brooks, an environmental studies and history professor at the University of Kansas, was picked to serve as regional administrator for EPA's Kansas City-based Region 7 office, which covers Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and native tribes.
Jackson said each of the regional chiefs will play an instrumental role in EPA's mission to protect public health and the environment.

McLerran has more than 20 years of experience as an advocate, attorney and administrator. As chief of the Puget Sound group, a regional regulatory agency, McLerran directed efforts to slash emissions at the ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Metro Vancouver. Before that, he served as city attorney for Port Townsend, Wash., and director of the Seattle Department of Construction and Land Use.

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who recommended McLerran for the position, applauded the appointment.

"Mr. McLerran has a proven track record of working with diverse interest groups to protect and improve the environment and health of millions of Puget Sound-area residents," Cantwell said in a statement. "His many years of experience as Executive Director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency have earned him great respect across the state and the region."

Brooks taught environmental studies and history at the University of Kansas for the past decade. He also was the executive director of the Idaho Conservation League and served for six years in the Idaho Senate.

Scott Allegrucci, director of the Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy, welcomed Brooks' appointment. "I think he will be really well-liked by anyone concerned with the environment," he said. In addition to legal and regulatory expertise, Brooks "has the potential to bring a lot of voices to the table," he added.