U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, made this statement following the Administration's announcement of the new Region 8 administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Shaun McGrath who is the former mayor of Boulder, Colorado, and principle of the environmental planning company Wheelhouse Associates.

"There is a mess to clean up in Region 8, and as EPA struggles to uphold its pledge of transparency to the American people, I hope the new Region 8 administrator will come in with a higher standard for holding himself and his colleagues accountable," said Vitter. "I would recommend that Mr. McGrath's initial training include a comprehensive explanation of EPA's policy on records retention (including protocols on personal email use and texting) and proper responses to congressional and FOIA inquiries."

McGrath will replace former regional administrator James Martin who resigned earlier this year following a congressional inquiry led by Sen. Vitter and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, into his use of personal e-mail for official business.

As Region 8 Administrator, McGrath's jurisdiction will include Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 tribal nations.

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