Today, EPA named Judith Enck as Regional Administrator for Region 2, which covers New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.   Like many of us at NRDC, I've known Judith for almost twenty years. 

Judith is the rare Regional Administrator who comes out of the grass roots environmental advocacy world, yet has substantial state government experience.  It's a great combination that will serve her well at Region 2.

Like President Obama, she's got NYPIRG in her blood.   When she was at NYPIRG in the 1990s, Judith and I overlapped in the hallways of Albany's Legislative Office Building often.   I always thought of her as a smart, passionate, and effective advocate on NYPIRG's  key environmental issues, somebody who knew the ins and outs of Albany as well as anybody. 

Her move from NYPIRG to become an environmental policy advisor to then-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer was a loss for the environmental community but a great gain for environmental protection in New York.   Her next move to the second floor of the State Capitol brought her knowledge, passion, and energy to both Governor Paterson's and former Governor Spitzer's oversight of environmental budget and policy issues. 

Now, Judith Enck is coming to NYC to lead the EPA Region 2 office here. 

I'm sure she will do a great job at Region 2.  She deserves our congratulations, our support and our applause.