Congressional watchdog rules EPA’s top attorney can serve

摘要

Congress’ top watchdog said EPA is in the right in having a senior attorney serve as acting general counsel for the agency. The Government Accountability Office said in a legal decision earlier this week that Melissa Hoffer, EPA’s principal deputy general counsel, was authorized to serve as its top legal officer on an acting basis. "We conclude that Ms. Hoffer qualifies under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 to serve as EPA’s Acting General Counsel because she is the first assistant to the EPA General Counsel and she need not have been the first assistant before the vacancy occurred," the decision said. An EPA spokesperson said the agency didn’t have a comment to share when contacted by E&E News for this story.