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Whitman Swears In Robert Varney as EPA New England's Regional Administrator

Release Date: 07/31/2001
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617) 918-1008

BOSTON – Robert Varney was sworn in Monday in Boston as regional administrator of the New England office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by EPA Administrator Christie Todd Whitman.

Varney, commissioner of the N.H. Department of Environmental Services, replaced Ira Leighton, who has been acting regional administrator since Mindy S. Lubber stepped down in January. Varney will begin in his position Aug. 6.

"Robert Varney made many contributions to improving the air, water and land and protecting the public health of citizens of New Hampshire when he served with distinction as environmental commissioner," said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. "I am thrilled he is joining our team and I look forward to his dedication, commitment and perservance to lead EPA New England."

Varney was sworn in at a midday ceremony at Faneuil Hall in Boston attended by hundreds of staff members from EPA New England.

Varney, 46, has been DES commissioner since 1989. During that time, several new programs were established, including a small business technical assistance program, a pollution prevention program in partnership with UNH, a brownfields program and several new financial assistance programs.

Varney recently served as chairman of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. He is also an original member and vice chairman of the Ozone Transport Commission. He also has served as chairman of both the New England Governors Conference Environment Committee and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission.

Varney also served as president of the Environmental Council of the States, the national organization of state environmental commissioners. He has chaired the NGA Superfund Policy Forum and the ECOS Superfund Workgroup and testified in Congress on behalf of both.

Varney has a bachelor's from the University of New Hampshire and a master's degree from Michigan State University.