Green Jersey

Lisa Jackson confirmed

The Senate yesterday confirmed Lisa Jackson, the New York Times, Associated Press and Gristmill are reporting.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) had reportedly stalled Jackson’s confirmation — he asked for her name to be removed from a list of nominees to be expedited because he wanted clarification on her role and energy czar Carol Browner’s.

From the Wall Street Journal:

At a Senate hearing last week, Barrasso asked Jackson “who will ultimately make the final EPA decisions,” should she be confirmed and what would happen if she and Browner ever disagree; Browner was EPA administrator during the Clinton administration, and is widely known in Washington as a forceful personality who can hold her own in bureaucratic combat. Jackson said she expects to seek Browner’s “advice and counsel,” but that “the final EPA decisions will be made by the EPA administrator.”

Nancy Sutley was also confirmed as head of the White House Council on Environmental Quality yesterday. From Gristmill:

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chair of the Senate panel, issued a statement immediately after the confirmation praising her colleagues for approving Sutley and Jackson. “I am really pleased that the Senate has taken the first steps toward restoring the EPA and CEQ to their proper role as organizations that fight to protect the health of our families and the safety of our air, our water and our planet,” said Boxer. “Lisa Jackson and Nancy Sutley are well qualified to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and the Council on Environmental Quality, and they respect and understand that their organizations’ mission is to protect public health and the environment.”

More: Jackson confirmed for EPA (Associated Press)