LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) The head of the Environmental Protection Agency told students at the University of Kansas that her job involves ensuring their future.
EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told the students Monday that they have the power to influence the course of environmental policies. She also said students should look at how they already live on campus by using public transportation, choosing efficient foods and living in small spaces.
The Lawrence Journal World reports that Jackson acknowledged the criticism the federal agency has received recently from those who say environmental regulations have “hobbled” the economy.
But she defended the EPA’s policies, saying it’s consistent with American values to keep industries from polluting, to keep vehicles from emitting toxins and to monitor chemicals used in producing food.
