The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted October 25 on four EPA nominees and one Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) nominee. The committee approved Office of Water nominee, David Ross, by voice along with Matthew Leopold, nominee for EPA’s general counsel, and Jeff Baran, nominee for the NRC. The two more controversial nominees – Michael Dourson, the nominee to lead EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, and Bill Wehrum, the nominee to head EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation – were also approved by a 11-10 party line vote.
All nominees will be reported to the full Senate for approval. There is currently no timeline for when these votes may occur.