New Boss at OSWER?

THE WASHINGTON-BASED U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) could soon have a new leader. President George W. Bush recently nominated congressional attorney Susan Bodine to become the EPA's assistant administrator in charge of the office.

Bodine, who currently serves as the staff director and senior counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, would replace Thomas Dunne, who has served as acting administrator in charge of OSWER for more than a year. Upon a new assistant administrator taking office, Dunne will work with EPA's Office of Homeland Security to improve the coordination of homeland security activities throughout the agency.

Presidential political appointees must receive approval from the U.S. Senate. As of press time, the Senate had held a confirmation hearing for Bodine, but had yet to vote on her nomination.

Previously, Bodine was an associate attorney for the Covington and Burling law firm in Washington. She received a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and obtained her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.