EPA chief’s exit creates air of uncertainty

Christie Whitman has submitted her resignation as administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), effective June 27. In a letter of resignation to President George W Bush, Whitman said she was leaving to spend time with family.

According to the Associated Press, Bush will be under pressure to replace Whitman with a nominee who is acceptable to his Republican supporters without alienating swing voters who tend to distrust Republicans regarding the environment.

A former New Jersey governor, Whitman had a hand in several key rules affecting the trucking industry.

She led the move to ensure that the low-emissions consent decrees that diesel engine manufacturers signed in 1998 were implemented Oct 1, 2002. When certain manufacturers requested delays, she intervened and denied all such pleas.

Whitman also helped obtain compliance with the 2006 ultra-low-sulfur diesel rule and the 2007–2010 on-road diesel engine rule, which mandated that engine makers reduce emissions to negligible levels.