[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Steve Owens Named President of National State Environmental Directors Association

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Steve Owens Named President of National State
Environmental Directors Association 

PHOENIX (Oct. 9, 2008) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Director Steve Owens has been elected President of the Environmental
Council of the States (ECOS), the national association of directors of
state environmental protection agencies throughout the United States.

Founded in 1993, ECOS works to improve the ability of state
environmental agencies to protect public health and the environment and
promote greater involvement by the states in environmental decision
making by the federal government.

"ECOS' mission is to ensure that the states' voice on environmental
protection is heard at the federal level and make sure that the states
receive adequate resources from the federal government to do the job we
are required to do by Congress and EPA," Director Owens said.  "ECOS and
the states have played an especially critical role in recent years in
protecting our air, water and precious natural resources from
pollution."

Owens' role as the new ECOS President will be especially important in
light of the upcoming changes in Washington, D.C.  "Regardless of who
wins the election, there will be a new President, a new EPA
Administrator and a slew of new people in leadership positions at EPA,"
Owens said.  "As ECOS President, I will be working closely with the new
national leadership to develop a better working relationship between the
federal government and the states and make sure that environmental
protection stays a top priority and receives adequate funding.  This
will be especially important in light of the serious budget problems the
states and federal government are facing."  

Owens pointed out that since 2002 the states have received an additional
280 federal rules to implement without additional federal funding to
implement those rules.  States now operate 96 percent of the federal
programs that are delegable to them, conducting most of the permitting,
enforcement, inspections, monitoring, and data collection required by
federal environmental laws.

Owens also noted that as ECOS President, he will be in an even stronger
position to advocate for Arizona's interests at the national level.
"I've always worked hard to make sure that Arizona's voice is heard in
Washington and nationally," Owens said.  "Being ECOS President will give
me even more opportunities to advocate for Arizona's interests."   

Owens was selected by Governor Janet Napolitano to head ADEQ in January
2003.  He is the longest-serving Director in ADEQ's history.

-30-

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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