Story: New Head of the Environmental Protection Agency, 10/29/03
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jul-dec03/epa_10-29.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. Who is Mike Leavitt?
   
   
   
   
2. What do some environmental groups say about Leavitt's record?
   
   
   
   
3. Describe Leavitt's environmental philosophy
   
   
   
   
4. Who is James Jeffords? How does he feel about President Bush's environmental policies?
   
   
   
   
5. Why did Senator Hillary Clinton change her mind about voting for Leavitt?
   
   
   
   
6. What is the EPA? Who started it? When?
   
   
   
   
7. What are the top priorities for the new EPA administrator?
   
   
   
   

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Does Mike Leavitt sound like a good leader for the EPA? Why or why not?

2. If you were in charge of the EPA, what issues would you focus on? How would you decide which issues are most important and what positions the EPA should take?

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.