Michael S. Regan

A native of Goldsboro, North Carolina, Regan is the son of Mavis Regan, a nurse for nearly 30 years,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-03-09|title=EPA Administrator|url=https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-administrator|access-date=2021-03-12|website=US EPA|language=en}}{{PD-notice}} and Zeb Stuart Regan Jr.,{{cite book |title=General Index to Births, Wayne County |publisher=North Carolina State Archives |location=Raleigh, North Carolina}} a Vietnam War veteran, retired colonel in the North Carolina Army National Guard,{{cite news |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article248975865.html |title=EPA nominee Regan clears Senate committee, appears headed for an easy confirmation |first=Brian |last=Murphy |date=February 3, 2021 |newspaper=The News & Observer |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |access-date=2021-02-09}}{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/108th-congress/522 |title=PN522 – Army |date=May 1, 2003 |website=U.S. Congress |access-date=2021-02-09}} and former agricultural extension agent. He has a brother and a sister. Growing up, he hunted and fished with his father and grandfather in the inner coastal plain of North Carolina.

Regan attended North Carolina A&T State University (HBCU), where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in earth and environmental science. He then attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he received a Master of Public Administration.{{Cite web|title=NC DEQ: Michael S. Regan|url=https://deq.nc.gov/about/leadership/michael-s-regan|access-date=2020-12-17|website=deq.nc.gov}}

Regan began his career as an environmental regulator for the Environmental Protection Agency during the Clinton administration and Bush administration from 1998 to 2008. He then joined the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), where he ultimately became the associate vice president for clean energy and a Southeast regional director.{{Cite web|title=N.C. Governor Roy Cooper names Michael Regan as secretary of environment|url=https://www.edf.org/media/nc-governor-roy-cooper-names-michael-regan-secretary-environment|access-date=2020-12-17|publisher=Environmental Defense Fund|language=en}} He remained at the EDF for over eight years.{{Cite web|last=Teirstein|first=Zoya|date=2020-12-14|title=Biden needs an EPA chief. Here's the shortlist.|url=https://grist.org/politics/biden-needs-an-epa-chief-heres-the-shortlist/|access-date=2020-12-17|website=Grist|language=en-US}}

In 2017, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper selected Regan to serve as the secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.{{Cite web|date=December 17, 2020|title=Biden picks regulator Michael Regan for EPA administrator|url=https://hosted.ap.org/theskanner/article/3067fc22ce4e1e0cbc3279c8af9bf67c/biden-picks-regulator-michael-regan-epa-administrator|access-date=December 17, 2020|website=Hosted|language=en}} During his tenure, he launched the state's Environmental Justice and Equity Board with a charter to advise the Secretary on how best to advance environmental justice and promote community engagement, particularly across historically underserved and marginalized communities.{{Cite news|last=Murphy|first=Brian|date=December 15, 2020|title=NC environmental official a contender to lead EPA in Biden administration, sources say|work=The News & Observer|url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article247855130.html}}{{Cite web|title=NC DEQ: DEQ announces the creation of a Secretary's Environmental Justice & Equity Board|url=https://deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2018/05/02/deq-announces-creation-secretary%E2%80%99s-environmental-justice-equity-board|access-date=2020-12-17|website=deq.nc.gov}}

He also worked to develop the state's Clean Energy Plan, which aims to reduce private sector greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and ultimately move towards carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan also outlines recommendations and goals of accelerating innovations in clean energy technologies, while creating opportunities for rural and urban communities across North Carolina. In addition, Regan oversaw the state's climate change interagency council, which worked to advance Governor Cooper's pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.{{Cite news|last=Friedman|first=Lisa|date=December 17, 2020|title=Biden to Pick Michael Regan, North Carolina Environment Regulator, to Head E.P.A.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/17/climate/michael-regan-epa.html|access-date=December 17, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}

In January 2020, Regan secured an agreement with Duke Energy for the largest coal ash contamination cleanup in United States history.{{Cite web|last=Downey|first=John|date=January 3, 2020|title=Deal with NC regulators requires Duke Energy to excavate 80M tons of coal ash from six sites|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2020/01/02/deal-with-nc-regulators-requires-duke-energy-to.html|access-date=2020-12-17|website=www.bizjournals.com}} The company committed to excavating eighty million tons of ash across seven of nine coal ash deposits. His department also ordered the chemical company Chemours to address and eliminate toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which they were dumping into the Cape Fear River upstream of a major source of drinking water.{{Cite web|last1=Pager|first1=Tyler|last2=Colman|first2=Zack|last3=Guillén|first3=Alex|date=December 17, 2020|title=Biden to tap North Carolina environmental regulator Regan to head EPA|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/17/epa-administrator-michael-regan-447747|access-date=2020-12-17|website=POLITICO|language=en}} While generally favored by environmental organizations, Regan has clashed with the environmental movement. In 2018, he approved permits for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, though the project was ultimately cancelled.

File:Michael Regan EPA official portrait.jpg

File:EPA Announcement on new Clean Air rules (52889093167).jpg

On December 17, 2020, members of the Biden presidential transition team told the press Regan would be nominated to serve as the next United States Environmental Protection Agency administrator. Regan's nomination was endorsed by the Environmental Protection Network, an organization composed of former EPA appointees and career staff which was created to oppose the Trump administration's efforts to roll back environmental regulations.{{cite news | last = Tollefson | first = Jeff | title = Biden's pick to head US environment agency heartens scientists: Veteran environmental regulator Michael Regan will lead the Environmental Protection Agency, joining a team of experienced climate appointees | newspaper = Nature | date = December 18, 2020 | url = https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03621-6 | access-date = January 11, 2021}}

On February 9, 2021, members of the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee voted 14–6 to send Regan's nomination as EPA administrator for a full Senate vote.{{cite news|url=https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2021/2/environment-and-public-works-committee-sends-nomination-of-michael-regan-for-epa-administrator-to-the-senate-floor|title=Environment and Public Works Committee Sends Nomination of Michael Regan for EPA Administrator to the Senate Floor|publisher=U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|date=February 9, 2021|accessdate=March 3, 2021}} The full Senate confirmed his nomination 66–34 on March 10, 2021,{{Cite web|last=Guillén|first=Alex|title=Senate confirms Michael Regan to lead EPA|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/10/michael-regan-epa-confirmed-475202|access-date=2021-03-10|website=POLITICO|date=March 10, 2021 |language=en}} and he was sworn in on March 11, 2021.{{Cite press release |title=Michael S. Regan Sworn in as 16th EPA Administrator |date=2021-03-11 |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |url=https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/michael-s-regan-sworn-16th-epa-administrator |quote=Michael S. Regan was sworn in as the 16th Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today. |access-date=2021-03-11}}

Regan is the first Black man to run the agency and is responsible for helping to advance the Biden administration's commitment to combating climate change, promoting green energy innovations, and addressing the effects of environmental racism.

Under his leadership, the EPA and United States Army issued a revised rule defining the federal government's jurisdiction over waters and wetlands under the Clean Water Act.{{Cite web |last=Magill |first=Bobby |date=December 30, 2022 |title=EPA Issues Revised Federal Waters Rule as Court Ruling Looms |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/environment-reporter/epa-issues-revised-federal-waters-rule-as-court-ruling-looms |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Bloomberg Law |language=en}}

On December 20, 2024, he announced his intention to resign from his position effective on December 31.

In 2023, speculation surrounding a potential candidacy by Regan for Governor of North Carolina in the 2024 election arose.{{Cite web |last1=Cama |first1=Timothy |last2=Bogardus |first2=Kevin |date=January 20, 2023 |title=Rumors swirl: Is EPA's Regan running for governor? |url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2023/01/20/rumors-swirl-is-epas-regan-running-for-governor-00078788 |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=E&E News |language=en}} Valerie Foushee, U.S. Representative from North Carolina's 4th congressional district, stated that she has heard "murmurings, nothing concrete" about a potential bid.{{Cite web |last=Baltzegar |first=Alex |date=2023-01-20 |title=Cooper declines to endorse Stein in 2024 gubernatorial race |url=https://www.carolinajournal.com/cooper-declines-to-endorse-stein-in-2024-gubernatorial-race/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=The Carolina Journal |language=en-US}}

Regan lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife, Melvina, and son, Matthew. Their first-born son, Michael Stanley Regan Jr. ("MJ") died on August 16, 2012, from stage IV high-risk neuroblastoma at the age of one.{{Cite web|title=NC DEQ: Michael S. Regan|url=https://deq.nc.gov/about/leadership/michael-s-regan#:~:text=Regan%20and%20his%20wife,%20Melvina,,%20Matthew,%20live%20in%20Raleigh.|access-date=2020-12-17|website=deq.nc.gov}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-administrator Biography] at the United States Environmental Protection Agency
• [https://deq.nc.gov/about/leadership/michael-s-regan Biography] at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (archived)
• {{Twitter}}
• {{C-SPAN|128798}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=Jane Nishida
Acting}}

{{s-ttl|title=Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency|years=2021–2024}}

{{s-aft|after=Lee Zeldin}}

{{s-end}}

{{EPA}}

{{Biden cabinet}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Regan, Michael S}}

Category:1976 births

Category:21st-century North Carolina politicians

Category:Administrators of the United States Environmental Protection Agency

Category:African-American members of the Cabinet of the United States

Category:African-American state cabinet secretaries

Category:Biden administration cabinet members

Category:Living people

Category:North Carolina A&T State University alumni

Category:People from Goldsboro, North Carolina

Category:People from Raleigh, North Carolina

Category:State cabinet secretaries of North Carolina

Category:North Carolina Democrats

Category:Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration alumni