Vision for EPA

Q: How long did it take before the decisions coming across your desk bore a stamp of your vision of the agency, as opposed to being the legacy of previous policies?

MR. COSTLE: Probably two years. It takes time to influence that stream, because decisions work their way up over a considerable period of time. But this doesn't mean we didn't make an immediate imprint. We first identified the twelve most important, most controversial proposals and intercepted those to make sure we could shape them. But it wasn't until we had the first good regulatory calendar in place that we could set up a thorough review system that worked. By the time I left, I felt comfortable that there were no surprises in the pipeline. But this still didn't obviate day-to-day crisis management. This constant queuing of urgent matters can overwhelm your calendar if you're not careful. You have to fight to set priorities and ensure that the things you want to focus on get to you in a timely way.

NEXT: Congressional relations >>

Vision for EPA

Local Navigation