Top official's sudden exit sparks turmoil

摘要

EPA's Southeast branch is notoriously tough to manage. For starters, it's huge. Everything from the Appalachian Mountains to the Everglades swamps is under the purview of EPA's largest region. The Atlanta-based office oversees eight states, more than any other region. The politics are complicated too. In the Deep South - traditionally a stronghold for Republicans - many are suspicious of federal regulators. Region 4 encompasses Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.