January—March 2025 Newsletter
A New Regional Administrator
Region 9 has a new leader -- Josh F.W. Cook was appointed Regional Administrator of EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region (Region 9) in March. Mr. Cook is a veteran of the California State Guard and an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California. He lives in Chico, California, where he is active in his church and community. Mr. Cook was recently an Advisor to the Tribal Council of the Mooretown Rancheria of Concow Maidu Indians, working on forest resiliency in California and Nevada. Prior to that, he was Chief of Staff to the Minority Caucus in the California State Legislature. His work experience also includes previous appointments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Interior Resource Advisory Councils, and service as a City Planning Commissioner.
Responding to Fires in California
In January 2025, a series of catastrophic wildfires developed in Los Angeles County. EPA quickly assumed a central role in the overall response, kickstarting critical recovery work while the fires were still burning and taking on what constituted the largest post-fire hazardous materials cleanup in the history of the agency. The Federal Emergency Management Agency assigned EPA to safely dispose of hazardous materials from all burned areas and provide water infrastructure technical assistance. EPA completed the hazardous materials effort on February 26, meeting the President’s deadline to wrap up the first phase of the overall recovery from the Los Angeles wildfires. Together, with the support of our partners, more than 1,600 staff identified and then cleared hazardous materials from properties in two fire footprints, finishing just 29 days after beginning work in the field.
In Northern California, EPA responded to another notable fire at the Vistra Battery Energy Story Facility in Moss Landing. At the request of Monterey County, shortly after the fire started on January 16, EPA deployed nine air monitoring stations for particulate matter and hydrogen fluoride, which are pollutants of concern from a battery fire. On January 20, EPA concluded supplemental air monitoring, with results showing no risk to public health throughout the incident. EPA is currently overseeing efforts to delink damaged batteries in the burned facility, to prevent further ignitions.
- EPA's Response to the Los Angeles Wildfires
- MSN: EPA Completes Phrase One of Los Angeles Wildfire Cleanup Ahead of Deadline
- Monterey County Now: Toward a Careful Recovery from the Vistra Fire
EPA Leaders In Arizona and Hawaii
During his first days as EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator, Josh F.W. Cook traveled to Arizona and Hawaii with Administrator Lee Zeldin. In Arizona, the two participated in a series of roundtable discussions and meetings with state elected officials, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, business leaders, and local elected officials focused on ozone nonattainment issues and other matters within EPA’s jurisdiction. The Regional Administrator and Administrator Zeldin also toured the 22,000 acre reservation of the Ak-Chin Indian Community. After the trip to Arizona, the two traveled to Maui to meet with community leaders, local officials, and EPA staff to survey recovery efforts following the 2023 Maui wildfires. The Hawaii visit wrapped up with a tour of the Red Hill facility, where EPA is overseeing Navy efforts to defuel fuel storage facilities and safeguard drinking water.
- Indian Gaming: EPA Leaders Visit Ak-Chin Indian Community
- KJAZZ Phoenix: Pollution and Air Quality in Arizona
- News Release: EPA Administrator Zeldin Meets with Local Leaders, Surveys Maui Wildfire Recovery Efforts, and Visits Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility