The U.S. EPA is likely to appoint Bruno Piggot, current principal deputy assistant administrator for the Office of Water, as the office’s new acting assistant administrator, according to an article from Politico’s E&E News.
The assistant administrator is an important leading role for EPA’s Office of Water. The role acts as one of the agency’s main public-facing figures and as chief advisor to the EPA administrator and White House on the water sector.
The appointment follows Radhika Fox’s announced departure from EPA earlier this year. Fox’s last day at the agency was Feb. 22. After leaving the agency, Fox joined Xylem as a senior advisor to the water technology company. Fox’s LinkedIn page also shares that she started working as the principal of North Star Strategy, an unknown business located near Washington D.C.
E&E News reports that Pigott’s term as acting assistant administrator will start at the beginning of March. However, EPA already treats Pigott as acting assistant administrator in its official communications. For example, in EPA’s Feb. 27 press release on WIFIA funding in California, the agency includes a quote from Piggot in the second paragraph (a leading spot normally filled by Fox in previous years). The quotation refers to him as acting assistant administrator for the Office of Water.
It is not yet clear when the U.S. Senate will appoint the next official assistant administrator. Until that time, Pigott will likely remain as the acting assistant administrator.
