Joint statement from Gov. Gregoire, Ecology Director Sturdevant on 40th anniversary of EPA

For Immediate Release: December 2, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire and Department of Ecology Ted Sturdevant today issued the following statements celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency:

�I�m pleased to be able to congratulate the Environmental Protection Agency on 40 years of improving and protecting our nation�s water, land, and air. No matter which political party is in power, the EPA continues to safeguard environmental and human health,� Gregoire said. �I want to thank Lisa Jackson for her strong leadership in making sure that protecting America�s environment continues to be a top priority.

�No celebration of the EPA would be complete without mentioning the long-term commitment and dedication of Bill Ruckleshaus,� Gregoire continued. �Under his leadership, as the first head of the agency under the Nixon administration, and then a second term under President Reagan, the EPA established national laws to clean up and protect the air, water, and land that sustain us.�

Sturdevant highlighted the strong partnership between Washington state and EPA Region 10, adding, �Under the environmental leadership provided by Dennis McLerran, the states and EPA are now taking on more difficult pollution problems, including controlling the sources of toxic chemicals in products and controlling polluted rainwater runoff.

�We have learned that the environment and the economy can and must coexist to sustain future generations. We know that a healthy environment is crucial to our state�s economic vitality and to the well-being of Washingtonians. EPA is a strong partner in our efforts to clean up and protect Washington�s environment.�