White House names acting EPA administrator

By OGJ editors
WASHINGTON, DC, July 10 -- US President George W. Bush Thursday said he intends to designate Marianne Lamont Horinko to be acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Horinko currently serves as assistant administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response (SWER) for the agency.

She is the former president of Clay Associates Inc., a public policy firm devoted to hazardous waste issues.

Prior to joining the Bush administration, Horinko served as an advisor to Don Clay, EPA assistant administrator for SWER, during 1989-93. Earlier in her career, Horinko worked as an attorney at Morgan, Lewis and Bockius during 1986-90 and as a staff scientist at Environ Corp. during 1983-86.

President Bush's first EPA administrator, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman (R), resigned June 27, saying she wanted to spend time with her family (OGJ Online, May 21, 2003). Her deputy, Linda Fisher, is currently the acting administrator but wrote a June 26 letter of resignation effective Friday; she also cited spending time with her family as the reason she was leaving.

The White House is expected to seek formal Senate confirmation of a new administration in the fall. Horinko is a possible although not probable candidate for the position according to industry lobbyists. Fisher was never seriously considered, they said.

Other names rumored to be under consideration to fill the position include Idaho Gov. Dick Kempthorne (R) and Jo Cooper, president of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Separately, Bush also named Stephen L. Johnson to be acting deputy administrator of EPA. Johnson currently serves as assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances.