Acting assistant administrator for water, Nancy Stoner, announced her departure from EPA to head up a new water program for the Pisces Foundation, a non-profit organization based in San Francisco. The announcement came as she reached the statutory limit on her ability to serve in the acting assistant administrator role.
Stoner has led the Office of Water (OW) in an acting capacity since early 2011, as the agency awaited the confirmation of Ken Kopocis for the position. The Kopocis nomination has been held up in the Senate for more than three years, during which time he has served in an advisory role for OW while awaiting movement on his confirmation. Administrator Gina McCarthy announced that Kopocis will now serve as deputy assistant administrator for water. However, the appointment to this position has raised some eyebrows, as it essentially puts him in a position to lead the Office of Water without going through the confirmation process, and there could be some congressional pushback when members return from their August recess.
Stoner’s departure comes close on the heels of the announced departure of Bob Perciasepe as EPA’s deputy administrator. He leaves his post in August to become the president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. As a former head of the Office of Water, Perciasepe’s departure (combined with Stoner’s) represents the loss of a large stock of institutional knowledge specific to water issues at the agency. Lisa Feldt, former deputy assistant administrator for EPA's solid waste and emergency response office, has been named as acting deputy administrator.