Whitman Names New Advisor on Farm Pollution Issues

May 14, 2001
EPA Administrator Christie Whitman named Jean-Mari Peltier, a\r\nformer pesticide expert with California's state environmental agency,\r\nto the post of counselor on agriculture policy.

EPA Administrator Christie Whitman named Jean-Mari Peltier, a former pesticide expert with California''s state environmental agency, to the post of counselor on agriculture policy.

"I am pleased that Jean-Mari Peltier has agreed to come on board and take on the challenge of this position," said Whitman. "Certainly her familiarity with both agricultural and environmental issues will ensure that we balance the two when pursuing our goal of a cleaner environment."

Peltier, of Newcastle, most recently represented the California Citrus Quality Council, serving as its president since May 1999.

Prior to joint the California Citrus Quality Council, she was chief deputy director in the Department of Pesticide Regulation for the California EPA.

In that capacity, Peltier oversaw day-to-day operation of the pesticide regulatory program.

Farm groups have long expressed concern over EPA''s actions to tighten rules for animal manure run-off in streams and pesticide safety reviews. The groups maintain that the agency did not consider the costs of the new regulations for American farmers.

Meanwhile, environmentalists have argued that farms should have to follow the same rules to limit pollution as other industries.

Whitman said the new position was established to help bridge this gap and consider the concerns of various stakeholders, including farmers and green groups.

"By establishing this position we will better able to integrate the concerns of the agriculture community when making important decisions about how best to protect our natural resources," said Whitman.

The new advisor will also serve as the central contact for EPA cooperation with the USDA and maintain an awareness of Congressional activities related to agricultural issues.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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