PHILADELPHIA (WVDN) – U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that President Donald J. Trump appointed Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey as EPA’s Mid-Atlantic (Region 3) Regional Administrator. Regional Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey will oversee the implementation of federal environmental laws and priorities of the administration’s agenda in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and of EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program. She is the first woman appointed to lead the EPA Mid-Atlantic Region in the agency’s history.
“Amy’s experience and dedication to both agriculture and the environment make her a tremendous asset to the agency and the Mid-Atlantic Region,” said Administrator Zeldin. “I am confident she is well equipped to carry out our mission and help deliver on our agenda to Power the Great American comeback.”
“My commitment to sustainability traces back to over 30 years ago, when I founded a county-wide environmental group focused on watershed management and agricultural best practices. I’m excited to harness my passion for the environment to facilitate progress and support the Great American Comeback under the leadership of Administrator Zeldin and President Trump,” said Regional Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey.
Van Blarcom-Lackey has a distinguished history of service, having been appointed as the first Agricultural Ombudsman in the state of Pennsylvania where she served as a crucial link to agriculture communities, addressing conflicts related to agriculture, land use, and environmental planning. She brings more than a decade of experience as a lobbyist for both state and federal agricultural interests and over 20 years of experience in finance and business management.
A lifelong conservationist, Van Blarcom-Lackey was raised in rural Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed on her family’s dairy farm. Her successful tenure managing her own family enterprises, along with her work in the financial industry, equipped her with a keen understanding of the intersection between business, environmental, and community needs.
Van Blarcom-Lackey resides in Philadelphia with her family.
Here’s what people are saying about Amy’s presidential appointment
“We congratulate the EPA and Administrator Lee Zeldin on the selection of Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey to serve as the agency’s Region 3 Administrator. Amy is enormously qualified, bringing both extensive experience and a strong understanding of the region she will be overseeing,” said Representative Dan Meuser (PA-09). “Her commonsense approach, sharp cost-benefit skills, and first-hand knowledge of the Mid-Atlantic will ensure she is a productive and effective Regional Administrator. The region has many unique nuances, which Amy is not only well acquainted with, but also approaches with a deep commitment to the short- and long-term growth and integrity of our communities and industries.”
“I extend my congratulations to Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey on her appointment to serve as Region 3 Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Amy is a constituent of my Senate District from Bradford County, and I am proud to see that she has been appointed to this very important position,” said Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw (R-23). “Amy comes from a farming family who I have known and worked with for more than a decade. Her background and experience in agriculture and conservation will serve her well in addressing water quality, flood control, the Chesapeake Bay and the myriad of other environmental issues impacting our region. I look forward to working with Amy in this new position.”
“Amy‘s commitment to balance protecting the environment and common sense will serve our area, state, and region well,” said Pennsylvania State Representative Clint Owlett (R-68). “She will be a solid voice for our rural values and brings stability and predictability to our communities.
“Amy is a great choice for Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. She brings to the position a Cornell education, a background in both agriculture and energy, a great knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and past work in finance, which all make her the best possible choice. Bradford County is proud of her and we know she will serve the region well,” said Doug McLinko, Bradford County Commissioner.
“I met Amy in 2000 when she was hired as the very first ombudsman with the State Conservation Commission. In the few years I worked with Amy it was very apparent that she was very pragmatic and thoughtful when going to meetings and listening to some of the contentious situations between agriculture and the community. Amy had a soft ear and a desire to understand the concerns of the community,” said Chris Strohmaier, Managing Director, Chester County Conservation District. “I have no doubt that Amy will do an excellent job in this position to protect the environment, but to also understand the many industries that operate within that environment.”
“I have known Amy since our freshman year at Cornell University. Amy was a natural leader on campus and continued that path in her professional career,” said Harriet Wegmeyer, COO of Wegmeyer Farms and retired Executive Director of Nutrients for Life Foundation. “Her life-long experience as a farmer, combined with her years of advocating for farmers and the environment, make her a perfect match for this position.”
“Amy is a tenacious leader, a devoted mom, and a go-getter with a growth mindset whose deep roots in agriculture and steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship make her uniquely positioned to lead with both heart and expertise,” said Heather Madland, Managing Director, Business Development, Novacap.
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