You bring to this important position a record of accomplishment and environmental progress as Governor of New Jersey.
We commend your commitment to environmental protection and your willingness to dedicate your time and talent to serve as Administrator.
Your experience as a state executive, finding solutions to complex environmental problems with limited state budgets, gives you a solid foundation to lead the EPA.
You have shown that economic growth can occur in concert with environmental progress.
It is this balance and experience, together with an understanding of the innovative work being undertaken by the states, that I hope will guide your decisions as Administrator.
I applaud your success in implementing open space preservation and brownfields redevelopment programs in New Jersey.
These are initiatives that many of us on the Committee have worked on for some time, but regretfully, without success. We welcome your ideas, advice and counsel on these issues in the hope that we can find consensus to be successful this year.
Another area of my particular concern and attention involves activities of the Department of Defense.
The challenges facing defense installations on environmental protection and clean up are significant. I mention this because it is a personal commitment of mine and I want to let you know that I stand ready to work with you.
Recently, the Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency signed an innovative agreement to promote pollution prevention, to share environmental clean up technologies and to jointly support and finance individual projects. Although in its infancy, this agreement opens the door to communication and holds great promise for producing results.
This type of agreement among states, EPA and DOD should be encouraged with other states and I hope you will make this a priority.
There are many critical issues awaiting your attention at the Agency. I look forward to working with you to carry out our shared commitment to improving public health and our environment.