By Trish Svoboda/Image courtesy Canva
Jim Macy, administrator of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7, reflected on his first year leading the agency’s four-state region. Macy called the role an incredible opportunity. “It’s hard to believe it’s just been a year. Time really flies when you’re having fun. This is an incredible opportunity to be appointed by the president and serve under administrator Lee Zeldin. Region 7 covers four states, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri. We also have nine tribal nations that we serve. And we work with all four states, all nine tribes. And then we work with agriculture community to keep people in compliance and solve environmental problems.”
Macy stressed the value of hearing concerns directly from local communities. “When we hear those issues, we can take them forward to Washington, D.C.,” he said, adding that these discussions have led to positive actions from the EPA’s national office. “I want the folks out in Kansas to understand that when we hear those issues, we can take those forward to Washington, D.C. and I meet pretty routinely with the administrator and I pass those concerns or solutions onto the administrator. We’ve seen some really positive action out of our new EPA and in Washington, D.C. on working with folks and trying to solve problems.”
Macy also spoke about the importance of prescribed burns for managing pasture and rangeland. He said the practice helps control invasive species, keep branches open, and maintain healthy land. He noted partnerships with ranchers, landowners, and researchers at Kansas State University’s Konza Prairie Biological Station, highlighting how science supports better land and air management.” K-State’s done a wonderful job of doing great science research on this. They have a great area outside of Manhattan called the cons of Prairie Biological Station. I’ve been out there personally and observed the scientists in action doing these burns, finding those a lot better and I just consider those ranchers and landowners. Just try to spread that out a little bit across the year and maybe everybody can have better management of air resources and land resources.”
Macy encouraged farmers and ranchers to reach out to the agency with questions, noting the role of EPA Region 7’s special agriculture advisor, Doug Jones. He said the agency is also launching a series of updates from the Regional Administrator’s desk. “I’m starting something new from the Regional Administrators desk, different topical pieces for newsprint that talk about our science activities, what new activities we have going on, maybe some new ideas that are coming out or just some science advisories about what EPA does, how we work with people, and how we want to keep engaged with the American public.”
To find more information, visit EPA’s website.
