EPA Nominees Fail to Make Senate Cut

Amid the “lame duck” end-of-term flurries to confirm Senate nominees, several of EPA’s candidates apparently did not make the Senate Majority Leader’s cut.  The likelihood of their confirmation diminishes even more when Republicans take control in the next Congress.  Here’s a list of who is still waiting in the wings:

• Ken Kopocis to be Assistant Administrator for Water; first announced June 2011.
• Victoria Wassmer to be Chief Financial Officer; first announced September 2013.
• Tom Burke to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development; first announced November 2013.
• Janet McCabe to be Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation; first announced December 2013.
• Ann Dunkin to be Assistant Administrator for Environmental Information; first announced January 2014.
• Jane Nishida to be Assistant Administrator for International Affairs; first announced April 2014.

At least two of these candidates, Ken Kopocis and Janet McCabe, have been working in an “acting” or “special assistant” capacity, despite the Senate’s failure to advance their status.