Wise also tried to hire W. Michael McCabe, top deputy to Carol Browner, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. McCabe also turned down the job, citing family reasons. Several other top EPA officials, including Regional Administrator Brad Campbell and Campbell's chief water regulator, Rebecca Hamner, have also been considered. Wise has also talked to Charleston resident Paul Hill, former president of the National Institute for Chemical Studies and former chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Also being mentioned as a candidate has been Barbara Taylor, a former chief of the DEP Office of Water Resources who is now a top official in the state Bureau for Public Health.
Some Wise aides insist that the job is still up for grabs.
But other sources say that the leading candidate is Mark Scott, a former DEP deputy director and chief of water resources. Scott said Friday that he has interviewed with Wise, but doesn't know if he will be offered the job. I got the sense that he's taking his time and being deliberate, and that's what I think he should do. Scott said that DEP has allowed public battles over issues such as mountaintop removal and tougher water pollution rules get in the way of doing its job. DEP has got to get back to its rightful position as being the primary enforcer of environmental regulations in the state.