Senators seek EPA commitments on wildfire response, drinking water testing and disaster cleanup
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
In the confirmation hearing, senators from California and other wildfire‑affected states asked Lee Zeldin whether he would match prior EPA disaster responses — including drinking water testing, hazardous‑materials removal and technical assistance — and he pledged to assist if confirmed.
Senators representing states hit by wildfires and other disasters pressed Lee Zeldin to commit EPA resources for immediate and long‑term recovery.
Senator Alex Padilla and Senator Richard Blumenthal highlighted recent fires in California and the agency’s role after earlier disasters such as Hurricane Sandy and the Maui fires. They asked whether EPA would deploy teams to assess drinking water, wastewater and hazardous waste at burned or flood‑damaged sites. Zeldin said he would “do everything in my power” to assist and offered to travel to affected states to see conditions firsthand.
Senator Schiff noted EPA crews removed more than 200 tons of hazardous materials from Maui after the 2023 fires and asked Zeldin to prioritize similar assistance for California; Zeldin agreed to work on recovery assistance regardless of whether a state is represented by one party or another.
Senators also raised cross‑border pollution in the Tijuana River Valley and the need to review prior EPA decisions on Superfund designation; Zeldin agreed to review the agency’s prior regional determinations and to work with members on border water infrastructure programs.
Ending: Zeldin repeatedly offered to coordinate with senators, visit disaster zones and use EPA authorities for testing, cleanup and technical assistance, while reserving that some actions depend on interagency roles and available appropriations.