Callahan laments EPA limitations

Author: Cecilia Goldschmidt

"In my personal opinion, the planet needs saving," declared Kathy Callahan, Deputy Regional Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in her lecture on Thursday entitled, "Expecting Government to Save the Planet? The Evolving Federal Role." Since its creation in 1970, the EPA's mission has been to protect public health and the environment. However, there has been much controversy over the role of the EPA under the Bush administration concerning the lack of legislation and meager progress in regards to dealing with pressing issues such as global warming.

Given the recent hullabaloo surrounding the EPA, it was no surprise that students and faculty members crowded into McCardell Bicentennial Hall 216 on Thursday for Callahan's lecture. And while she conceded the limitations regarding progressive environmental legislation in the current administration, Callahan chose to focus on the successes in recent history and the small steps individuals can take to counteract global warming.

Callahan has worked for the EPA since 1971 in a variety of areas, including enforcement, budget and policy analysis, among many others. While she focused most of her lecture on the accomplishments of past administrations in dealing with environmental issues, drawing on the history of Federal involvement and policy successes, she also broached the topic of future challenges for the government.

Beginning with the founding of the Sierra Club by John Muir in 1892, Callahan presented a timeline of important environmental progress from the 1908 White House Conference on the Conservation of Natural Resources to the Clean Air Act of the 1990s. She noted that the EPA has funded over $60 billion in wastewater treatment plant construction and she asserted the importance of the EPA's announcement in 1971 of national air quality standards for six common causes of pollutants, such as lead and sulfur oxides.

Yet, "we still have problems," Callahan acknowledged in regard to the questionable successes of environmental legislation passed under the current administration. However, she added, "A government is successful not just for its accomplishments, but for its aspirations."

"We try to do everything we can within the legislation we have," emphasized Callahan, who, by the question-answer portion of the lecture, was willing to discuss the faults of the political side of the EPA. "Our budget has been declining for the last ten years," she lamented. Not naming any political leader specifically, she said, "I think we need an improvement in the political debate Ö political leaders need to be more substantive in the way they approach things." This is why Callahan stresses the importance of taking advantage of leaders who are not just politicians, as much more could be done without the pressure of politics.

Concerning the EPA's present work, Callahan admitted, "I'm going to guess we may not have a robust approach to climate change in the next year and a half." So if the government is currently not making much headway regarding the environment, what can we do to help? Callahan suggested that we save energy, take mass transit and car pool, recycle and spread the word. Callahan ultimately advised, "Speak out about what you care about."