New EPA Administrator Wheeler opened his first week (back in the beginning of March) by adding two new and promoting two senior staff – including Region 8 Administrator Doug Benevento. The announcement was made shortly after UPA’s Upstream Committee and Refinery Environmental Committees met with Administrator Benevento and his Senior Counselor Megan Garvey in Salt Lake on March 1.
Doug Benevento will be the Senior Counselor for Regional Management and State Affairs. Mr. Benevento has previously served the public as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and as a top legislative aide to Representative and Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado. He holds a J.D. from the University of Denver and has extensive law firm and corporate experience. His Senior Counselor will be making the move together with Administrator Benevento.
Other leadership changes include Mara Kamen, the new career Director of the Office of Human Resources, Michael Molina, the new Deputy Chief of Staff and Corry Schiermeyer, the new Associate Administrator for the Office of Public Affairs.
Given the significant and pressing air quality challenges Utah faces, from PM2.5 to ozone along both the Wasatch Front and in the Uintah Basin, we have sent a message to EPA urging a prompt and permanent (rather than “Acting”) replacement for the Region 8 Administrator position. We are joined in this effort by the Utah Mining Association and the Utah Federal Delegation.