News Releases from Region 01

Town Manager Susan Lessard Named to National EPA Advisory Committee and Subcommittee

BOSTON (May 11, 2018) – Today, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the appointment of Town Manager Susan Lessard of Bucksport, Maine, to the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). The 34-member LGAC helps EPA develop strong partnerships with local governments to provide more efficient and effective environmental protection at the community, state, and federal level. Town Manager Lessard has also been appointed to the Small Community Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS), which helps EPA develop robust partnerships with small communities to address environmental and public health issues.

EPA is committed to collaborating with states and local governments in the spirit of cooperative federalism to build on their work to achieve cost reductions and better allocate resources. Improvements to public health and the environment are best achieved when EPA works together with states, tribes, and communities to address environmental issues through trust, collaboration, and partnership.

"EPA's efforts to protect public health and the environment are most effective when the Agency works cooperatively with state and local governments," said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. "I look forward to working with the committee members on important environmental issues while developing stronger and more robust partnerships across states, tribes, and local communities."

"Town Manager Lessard is deeply familiar with the unique issues faced by New England communities," said EPA Regional Administrator Alexandra Dunn. "Her record of dedicated service to these communities exemplifies the leadership and input we seek from committee members and she will be a great asset to the committee."

Town Manager Lessard has spent the majority of her career in public service, including as a town manager in five different Maine communities. Her experience with small town management issues will bring an important voice to these committees as well as representation for New England coastal town issues.

The panel was selected based on their demonstrated leadership experience, proven record of service to their communities, and involvement in effective environmental protection services and programs at the community, state, and federal level.

Chartered in 1993 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Local Government Advisory Committee provides independent and objective policy advice to the EPA Administrator. The Small Community Advisory Subcommittee was established by EPA in 1996 to advise the Administrator on environmental issues of concern to the residents of smaller communities. It is a subcommittee of the Local Government Advisory Committee. The committee and subcommittee intend to meet in early summer to begin their work.

For more information and to see the full list of newly appointed LGAC and SCAS members, please visit http://www.epa.gov/ocir/scas_lgac/lgac_index.htm.