Michael S. Regan, the former top environmental regulator for North Carolina, was today sworn in as the 16th Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). As EPA head, he will be responsible for driving forward the Biden administration’s climate and regulatory agenda.

“I’m grateful to President Biden for entrusting me to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at this critical moment in our country’s history,” Regan said. “EPA’s career officials are the backbone of this agency, and I am humbled to work alongside them as we confront climate change, stand up for justice and equity, and ensure science is at the heart of our decision-making. We will prove that environmental protection and economic prosperity go hand in hand – and we will seize this opportunity to create a healthier, more just future for all.”

He returns to the EPA after starting his career at the agency, rising to the role of national program manager responsible for designing strategic solutions to reduce air pollution, improve energy efficiency and address climate change.

Prior to his nomination as EPA Administrator, Regan served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. In that role, he spearheaded the development and implementation of the state’s plan to address climate change and transition it to a clean energy economy. Among other achievements, he secured the largest coal ash clean-up in U.S. history and led complex negotiations regarding the clean-up of the Cape Fear River, which had been contaminated for years by the toxic chemicals per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS).