EPA Chief Who Oversaw Controversial Fracking Study Resigns

There are on-going investigations into the use of fake emails by EPA officials, up to and including former EPA head Lisa Jackson, and it appears as though that investigation may have resulted in the resignation of EPA Region Eight Director James Martin.

Martin oversaw the controversial fracking investigation in Pavilion, Wyoming, has been cited by environmental groups as evidence linking fracking to water contamination.

CHEYENNE, WYO. — A regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who oversaw investigations that involved hydraulic fracturing in Wyoming and asbestos contamination in Montana is resigning.

EPA Region Eight Director James Martin will step down Friday. Martin had announced his resignation to EPA employees last Friday.

Martin says in his resignation letter it’s time for him to turn his attention to his family. Martin is resigning after more than two years in charge of EPA Region Eight, which covers Colorado, North and South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

His resignation occurs while Republicans, including Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, investigate whether Martin and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson used private email accounts to conduct official business.

This is a potentially big development. There were major flaws in the EPA’s findings in the Pavilion case, and when you have the head of the EPA using an email address under a fake name – “Richard Windsor” was Jackson’s cover – things start smelling more than a little fishy.