News Releases - 2003

Director Cipriano Confirmed To New Appointment

Springfield, Ill. -- The Illinois Senate by a 54-0 vote, has confirmed Governor Rod R. Blagojevich’s reappointment of Renee Cipriano as Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Director Cipriano has headed the Agency since August 2001. She also served as Associate Director and Chief Legal Counsel of Illinois EPA from 1995-1997.

“I am honored to continue as Director of this Agency and to be a part of Governor Blagojevich’s team. I know the Governor has a strong commitment to the environment, as evidence by the support he received from leading environmental groups and his record in Congress and the Legislature,” said Director Cipriano.

She said she looked forward to helping Governor Blagojevich implement the initiatives he announced during his campaign. They include encouraging the use of clean coal technology and expanding the use of renewable energy resources.

“I am also encouraged by Governor Blagojevich’s strong commitment to cleaning up our rivers, lakes and streams and his proposal for additional resources for that effort.”

Illinois EPA will also implement the Governor’s commitment to a safe and healthy environment for our children through such initiatives as hazardous waste and mercury collections from schools, “green chemistry” workshops, bus emissions reductions and an ongoing initiative to reduce sources of mercury in our environment, Director Cipriano noted.

In addition, Illinois EPA is moving to implement Governor Blagojevich’s call for the Agency to take a more proactive role in investigating environmental justice issues. An interim Environmental Justice Policy has been posted on the web (www.epa.state.il.us) for public comment and Environmental Justice Officer Ken Page has been appointed.

Director Cipriano drew bipartisan praise from members of the Senate Executive Appointments Committee for her leadership of the state’s environmental agency and record of public service.

She pledged to continue to reach out to all stakeholders and citizens and said Illinois EPA will continue to seek new ways to continue meeting the challenges to our environment in the most efficient, innovative and cost-effective ways possible.