EPA pick Michael Regan has rural roots, ties to farm country

摘要

For a man who recently slapped a nearly $90,000 fine on a polluting hog farm in North Carolina, Michael Reganhas managed to hold on to the goodwill of the industry behind the problem.In line to become EPA administrator in the Biden administration, Regan - now the director of the North CarolinaDepartment of Environmental Quality - will shape the environmental agency's approach to large livestock farmsthat both pollute and support agricultural communities. Environmental and farm organizations say he's balancedthe competing priorities, and industry groups say they're not worried - yet."Secretary Regan made a point to educate himself about our industry and issues. He visited our farms andlistened carefully to our concerns," the North Carolina Pork Council said in a statement. "While we don't alwaysagree, we respected each other and shared a commitment to clean water, clean air and economic progress foreveryone."