>Bush names Monsanto executive for senior EPA job
>
>REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
>May 2, 2001
>
>WASHINGTON - An executive with Monsanto Co , a leading developer of
>biotech
>foods, has been nominated for the second-ranking job at the
>Environmental
>Protection Agency, the White House said yesterday.
>
>Linda Fisher, who worked for the EPA for 10 years before heading
>Monsanto's
>Washington lobbying office, was nominated for the post of deputy
>administrator. Fisher also served on a U.S. Agriculture Department
>advisory
>committee on biotech foods.
>One of the major issues currently before the EPA is a request from
>Aventis
>SA to approve a genetically-modified corn known as StarLink for
>human
>consumption. StarLink, a variety altered to repel pests, was barred
>from
>human food in 1998 due to concerns that it might trigger allergic
>reactions
>in some people.
>
>The discovery of StarLink contamination in taco shells last autumn
>prompted
>a massive recall of more than 300 kinds of snack chips, corn flour
>and other
>foods. Aventis contends the corn is safe and poses no risk to people
>who eat
>it.
>
>The EPA, which regulates plants altered to produce their own
>pesticides, is
>also considering whether to renew the registration of Bt corn,
>cotton and
>potato varieties that were approved six years ago. The registrations
>are set
>to expire in September.
>
>The White House also nominated two others for key posts at the EPA.
>
>Stephen Johnson, who is currently acting assistant administrator,
>was
>nominated to be assistant administrator for pesticides.
>
>Jeffrey Holmstead, a White House adviser during the first Bush
>presidency,
>was nominated to be assistant administrator for air and radiation.
>
>In addition to the EPA, the Bush administration nominated James
>Connaughton
>to head the Council of Environmental Quality. Connaughton, an
>environmental
>lawyer, has been a lead negotiator during the past seven years on a
>U.S.
>advisory group to the International Standards Organization on
>environmental
>standards.
>
>The U.S. Senate must confirm all presidential nominees.