Environmental Law

A New Sheriff in Town?

By Walter James

On January 5, 2009, Granta Nakayama introduced Adam Kushner as the USEPA?s new Director of the Office of Civil Enforcement (?OCE?) (effective January 11, 2009).  Kushner was previously the Director of the Air Enforcement Division of OCE and oversaw the national air enforcement program.  Kushner has twenty-two (22) years of experience as an environmental lawyer and litigator, including almost twenty (20) years as an enforcement attorney representing the USEPA.  He is a former USDOJ Environmental Enforcement Section trial attorney focusing primarily on civil enforcement actions. 

Kushner replaces Randy Hill (a great guy) who was the Acting Director of OCE.  Randy is now assigned to the transition of the Obama Administration, and will serve as the Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator of OECA. 

For those of us in the trenches (and to those who survived the former administration?s lack of focus on enforcement), a wait and see approach is required.  Will Kushner and Hill change the focus of the USEPA to more enforcement?  At this time, one can only wonder . . ..

It does bring to mind the old Irish curse ?May you live in interesting times . . ..? 

More later. 

As always, feel free to call me or e-mail me with any questions at walter.james@jamespllc.com.

WDJiii

Full post as published by Environmental Crimes Blog on January 21, 2009 (boomark / email).