By OGJ Editors
WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 28 -- The US Senate voted 88-8 Tuesday to approve the White House nomination of Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt (R) to lead the US Environmental Protection Agency. The Senate's consent was never in doubt, although some Democratic lawmakers held up a final vote on the nomination because of concerns by several mainstream environmental groups that the governor is too proindustry.
Leavitt throughout the nomination process sought to deflect that criticism, defending his record as governor and pledging to protect the nation's resources at a reasonable cost.
"I believe as a nation we have an abounding capacity to continue our path of environmental progress, and an imperative to do so at less cost. I believe I can help protect this nation's land, air, and water by promoting a higher and more meaningful level of cooperation and the application of new technologies," Leavitt said Aug. 11.
President George W. Bush tapped Leavitt last August to replace Christine Todd Whitman (R), a former New Jersey governor widely seen as a moderate on clean air issues. Environmentalists say Whitman left after she lost several internal battles with other members of the Bush administration over climate-change policy and clean-air permitting. Whitman resigned June 27, saying then she wanted to spend more time with her family.
Oil industry trade groups have largely avoided comment on Leavitt. Privately, some company officials said they are encouraged by the White House's choice, given that Leavitt comes from an oil and gas producing state and is very familiar with public land access issues.
