WASHINGTON, DC – Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation today applauded the Obama Administration’s announcement that it will name Curt Spalding as the new head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region I office. As the U.S. EPA Region I Administrator, Spalding will be New England’s senior environmental official, overseeing federal environmental programs within the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
“I applaud the Obama Administration for appointing Curt Spalding as the new EPA Region I Administrator. Curt has the commitment and experience necessary to help preserve and protect New England’s environment and our communities,” said Senator Jack Reed, who strongly recommended Spalding for the job. “For more than two decades Curt Spalding has distinguished himself as a community leader and an unyielding environmental advocate. His success in pollution prevention, conservation efforts, and habitat restoration programs for communities throughout southern New England make him exceptionally qualified for this job.”
“Curt has been a committed advocate for environmental protection and restoration for over 20 years and has successfully fostered a special connection between Rhode Islanders and Narragansett Bay. His efforts to encourage longterm investment in the Bay’s, and Rhode Island’s, future are a model for all of New England, and his sense of purpose, strength of character, and integrity make him eminently qualified to be Region 1 Director at the EPA,” said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.
“Curt Spaulding is one of the most effective environmental advocates in the nation,” said Representative Patrick Kennedy. “During his twenty-year tenure at Save the Bay, he fought for critical environmental protections, educated communities about the economic and social benefits of conservation efforts, and advocated for the strict enforcement of environmental laws and regulations. His passion, dedication and institutional knowledge make him a terrific choice and I am confident that he will be an exceptional asset to the EPA and the region.”
“The appointment of Curt is good news for Rhode Island and the region,” said Representative Jim Langevin , who also wrote a letter of recommendation to the EPA on Spalding’s behalf. “I look forward to working with him in his new role as he continues to fight to preserve and protect our natural resources.”
For two decades Spalding worked at Save the Bay, Rhode Island’s largest environmental organization, including 18 years as Executive Director, before stepping down in 2008. Under his leadership, Save the Bay achieved a wide range of impressive accomplishments, including the establishment of the Narragansett BayKeeper and Habitat Restoration Program; the completion of a multi-million dollar Explore the Bay campaign that annually helped over 10,000 urban youth get hands-on environmental education; and the construction of the Save the Bay Center in Providence. He also played a central role in improving the water quality of Narragansett Bay and fought for more treatment and regulation for our region’s waste and storm water.
Spalding has received numerous awards and honors, including the University of Rhode Island Distinguished Achievement Award – College of Environmental and Life Sciences. Prior to joining Save the Bay, Curt served for two years at the EPA in both Washington and Boston. He graduated from Hobart College in 1981 and lives in Cranston with his wife Patrice and their two children.
The EPA is the federal agency in charge of safeguarding the natural environment and enforcing national standards under a variety of environmental laws, in consultation with state and local governments. The agency has 10 regional offices and employs 17,000 people across the country, including engineers, scientists, and environmental protection specialists who conduct environmental assessment, research, and education.
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