Word: epa
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...caretaker for the battered Environmental Protection Agency as it searched for a permanent replacement for departing Administrator Anne Burford, John Hernandez seemed a perfect choice. A water-pollution expert and former dean of engineering at New Mexico State University, Hernandez had distinguished himself as one of the few top EPA officials not caught in the crossfire of charges about sweetheart deals, political manipulation, conflict of interest and mismanagement. Some of his colleagues caustically pointed out that he could credit his clean slate at least in part to his exclusion from the agency's decision-making echelon. "He was lucky...
Burford conceded that the pressure was overwhelming. "It's killing me," she said tearfully. "I can't stand there and watch that agency brought to its knees." New charges had surfaced only a few hours before her resignation. Two Democratic members of Congress released EPA documents showing that Burford was warned by the agency's inspector general nearly a year ago of damaging evidence of conflict of interest against her friend and influential aide, James W. Sanderson, but did not take any action...
...White House also eased out of its other major EPA problem on Wednesday. Presidential Aide James Baker and Democratic Congressman John Dingell, who heads one of half a dozen congressional panels probing the EPA, negotiated what may be the last deal necessary on the subpoenaed documents. A capitulation on the Executive privilege issue, the agreement offers Congress free access to EPA files...
Reagan tapped John Hernandez, the EPA's deputy chief, as acting administrator and immediately began the search for a successor with extensive Government experience and bipartisan appeal. The selection may prove as important as Burford's resignation. "Her departure isn't the issue," says Democratic Congressman Mike Synar. "The management and honesty of the EPA are the issues." Democrats will have ample opportunity to score further political points. Hearings were scheduled to begin this week in Congress on tightening up the laws governing waste disposal. The scandal's repercussions are likely to affect other environmental legislation...
...that a majority of Americans believe the President would rather protect polluters than clean up the environment, and found the public nearly as critical of Reagan as of Burford. Though his aides say Reagan's environmental policy will not shift direction with a change at the top of EPA, they hope to convince the public that the Administration is serious about cleaning up toxic wastes. In a way Burford's departure raises the stakes. "Anne was taking the heat for Ronald Reagan's environmental policy," said one senior aide. "Now the heat has been transferred to Ronald...