SMU professor will be Texas' next EPA chief
November 6, 2009
A Southern Methodist University professor will be the next chief of the federal Environmental Protection Agency's office in Texas, the agency announced Thursday.
Al Armendariz, a professor of environmental and civil engineering, will assume the regional EPA post at a time when the federal agency is at odds with Texas over the way the state issues air pollution permits to major industries.
Written by Matthew Tresaugue, Houston Chronicle
A Southern Methodist University professor will be the next chief of the federal Environmental Protection Agency's office in Texas, the agency announced Thursday.
Al Armendariz, a professor of environmental and civil engineering, will assume the regional EPA post at a time when the federal agency is at odds with Texas over the way the state issues air pollution permits to major industries.
Armendariz has been a critic of the regulatory Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on issues ranging from North Texas smog to Houston soot.
A native of El Paso, he earned a bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master's from the University of Florida and a doctorate from the University of North Carolina.
He has worked for the EPA, environmental groups and industry consultants.
“I'm proud to be selected and to work with the dedicated EPA team in confronting the environmental and energy challenges currently before us,” Armendariz said. “As a scientist, there has never been a more exciting time to be involved in environmental protection.”
Grass-roots approval
Environmentalists praised the selection, saying that the professor would make decisions based on science.
“It's a great move,” said Matthew Tejada, executive director of the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention. “This guy is aware of the problems and won't back down from TCEQ.”
Armendariz was one of two candidates endorsed by about 20 environmentalists. Some groups raised concerns about other candidates' ties to industry.
“After eight years of the Bush EPA, it's a new day for Texas' environment,” said Luke Metzger, director of Environment Texas. “Move over polluter lobbyists, science and human health are in charge now.”
TCEQ Chairman Bryan Shaw said he looked forward to working with Armendariz but raised concerns about his previous criticism of the state agency.
"While he has a long history as an environmental activist, I hope Dr. Armendariz recognizes that this position is too important to be used as a podium for environmental activism," said Shaw, who is on leave from a faculty position at Texas A&M University. "I urge Dr. Armendariz to use sound science in his decisions."
The post oversees EPA operations in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, does not require Senate confirmation.
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