White House names acting EPA administrator

The White House Thursday announced that President Bush intends to designate Marianne Lamont Horinko of Virginia to be acting administrator of the EPA.

Horinko currently serves as assistant EPA administrator for solid waste and emergency response. She is the former president of Clay Associates Inc., a public policy firm devoted to hazardous waste issues, and was project director of the National Sediments Dialogue, sponsored by the National Environmental Policy Institute.

A White House statement described Horinko as a "lifelong environmental professional" who also served in the EPA during the administration of President George H.W. Bush from 1989-1993. She will replace former EPA Administrator Christie Todd Whitman.

The president also intends to designate Stephen Johnson of Maryland to be acting deputy EPA administrator. Johnson currently serves as assistant administrator of the EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances.