Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Emma Pokon has been selected by President Donald Trump to be the new Region 10 Administrator at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, it was announced by Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday.
“It has been an incredible privilege to be a member of DEC’s leadership for the last five years and to serve in Governor Dunleavy’s cabinet,” said Commissioner Pokon. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue public service in this new role and look forward to working with EPA leadership and Region 10 to ensure balanced implementation of the nation’s environmental laws.”
““I can’t think of any Alaskan better suited to oversee federal environmental regulations and laws for Alaska than Emma Pokon,” Dunleavy said. “She has performed an admirable job leading the Department of Environmental Conservation and protecting Alaska’s pristine land and waters, and I join Alaskans from across the state in congratulating her for her new role.”
Congressman Nick Begich was pleased with the news.
“It’s fantastic to have an Alaskan back in a role that covers the Northwest, where Alaska has a bigger footprint than Idaho, Oregon, and Washington combined. Rather than operate as a tollgate constructed to say ‘No’, the EPA must reorient to become a partner in responsible development. Emma Poken will provide that leadership, and I join my colleagues in saying congratulations! We’re looking forward to working with you,” Begich said.
Pokon was appointed commissioner by Governor Dunleavy in December 2023, her last day at the department will be February 5. Deputy Commissioner Christina Carpenter will serve acting commissioner pending the governor’s selection of a new DEC commissioner.
She joined DEC in February 2020 from the Alaska Department of Law where she served as a senior assistant Attorney General assigned to support DEC.
In her time with the Department of Law, she worked as a special assistant to the Attorney General, and she worked closely with the Department of Natural Resources and the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
Before that, Pokon represented the North Slope Borough in natural resource and environmental matters, and she served as a law clerk for the Fairbanks Superior Court. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in chemistry from Hamilton College. She also achieved a JD and a Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School.
She replaces Biden appointee Casey Sixkiller.
Pokon’s region will cover Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
WOW HE FOUND ONE FROM OUR STATE WITH ENOUGH INTEGRITY. CONGRATULATIONS MA’AM WHAT AN HONOR TO EARN THAT WOW ALL. MAGA
All of a sudden everyone loves the EPA?
Yeah
Soon Alaska will be…what a beautiful place. Just don’t drink the water
Ya right Gregory. There might be mud in a muddy stream. The horror of it.
I wonder if Casey Sixkiller is Sonny Sixkiller’s daughter?
Oh, and good job team Dunleavy/Trump.
Carry on.
Congratulations ? Knock em dead Emma??
I would ask that Emma Pokon look into Hilcorp drilling in Cook Inlet and the related natural gas crisis that is occurring since federal judge Sharon Gleason shut it down in order to have more EPA studies done. I’m still wondering if we’ll be able to keep from importing natural gas for Alaskans to heat their homes before Enstar has no more.
So, now the EPA stands for the Emma Pokon Agency? (Someone had to say it)
Now that’s funny
Please fix the spelling of her name in the headline….Thanks!
Thanks. That auto-correct is a challenge sometimes. – sd
Another win for Alaska
The EPA, an agency that has grown far beyond what it was ever designed to be. Non elected bureaucrats dictating our policies and shutting down entire industries. Get the Doge Bro’s in there too. Time to downsize this behemoth and make us productive again.
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