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Week in Review: Administrator Zeldin Visits Three Priority Disaster Recovery Sites in First Full Week on the Job

February 10, 2025

Contact Information
EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin’s first full week on the job included visits to three priority disaster sites for the agency to survey recovery efforts: East Palestine (OH), Los Angeles (CA), and Western North Carolina. 

On Monday, February 3, 2025, Administrator Zeldin traveled with Vice President JD Vance to East Palestine, Ohio, to mark the two-year anniversary of the train derailment. EPA is working hand-in-hand with President Trump and Vice President Vance to ensure the Ohio residents whose lives were upended have the support they need. EPA is working on a daily basis with state and local partners to make sure the soil cleanup is completed by its target date.

EPA Administrator Zeldin in East Palestine, Ohio, February 2025

On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Administrator Zeldin delivered his Welcome Address to employees at EPA Headquarters in Washington, DC. In addition to staff who attended in-person, there were a record number of virtual attendees, more than 10,000, the highest in agency history. After the speech, he spent more than an hour talking with employees to discuss their top priorities.

EPA Administrator Zeldin and an agency colleague take a selfie at EPA Headquarters, Washington, February 2025

Following his welcome address, Administrator Zeldin met with staff at the Office of International and Tribal Affairs, Office of Research and Development, and Office of Mission Support. 

Administrator Zeldin and EPA Staff, Ronald Reagan Building, Washington, February 2025
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin meets agency program office staff at the agency's Reagan Building offices, Washington, February 2025

On Thursday, February 6, 2025, the Administrator was in Los Angeles, California, as EPA embarks on the largest wildfire cleanup in agency history. He visited EPA’s Incident Command Center in Burbank, toured damaged homes and met with residents in Altadena impacted by the Eaton Fire, and surveyed damage in the Pacific Palisades. 

EPA Administrator Zeldin meets Southern California wildfire response team members, February 2025
ALZ

The Administrator concluded his week in Western North Carolina to visit communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. He visited the Lake Lure Debris site and met with residents impacted by damage in Asheville. He then toured the North Fork Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Marshall Sewage Facility.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin meets communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, North Carolina, February 2025
Administrator Lee Zeldin in Western North Carolina, February 2025

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Last updated on February 11, 2025
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