BATAVIA, Ohio — Clermont County Commissioner David Painter will lead a national panel that advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on how its decisions affect local governments, according to the county.
Painter was named chair of the EPA’s Local Government Advisory Committee for a one-year term beginning Sept. 1, the county said. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin invited Painter to the role, citing his experience in national municipal organizations and the private sector.
The 22-member committee includes 13 new appointees and nine returning or reappointed members representing elected and appointed officials from across the country, according to the EPA. The panel is chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and provides independent policy advice to the EPA administrator on issues affecting local governments.
Painter currently serves as vice president of the Clermont County Board of Commissioners and is the most recent past president of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. His professional background includes experience managing engineering and construction projects in the private sector, according to the county.
“I am honored to accept the administrator’s invitation,” Painter said in a statement. “I look forward to joining my fellow committee members in this important work.”
Zeldin said local governments play a central role in addressing environmental and public health issues.
“Local governments are on the forefront of addressing environmental and public health issues across the country,” Zeldin said in a statement. “Working across the various levels of government to provide effective and efficient solutions is critical, and the LGAC has proven time and again to be a vital part of that work.”
As chair, Painter said the committee’s work will focus on balancing environmental regulation with responsible development.
“The synergies between environmental regulations and ensuring responsible performance in future projects are essential to moving America forward while protecting our environment for future generations,” Painter said in a statement. “This is our number one goal. The combined expertise of these members, serving in an advisory role, will result in practical advice that the federal EPA can count on to guide its future.”
The committee will begin its new charter by examining the challenges local governments face in siting and developing artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers, according to the EPA. That discussion is expected at a virtual public meeting in September.
The Local Government Advisory Committee was chartered in 1993 to strengthen the EPA’s partnership with local governments, according to the agency.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Clermont County Board of Commissioners.