CLF’s Cynthia Giles Confirmed for EPA Post: CLF Welcomes Tricia Jedele as RI Advocacy Center Director

MAY 12, 2009 (BOSTON, MA) Today, the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) announced that Cynthia Giles, CLF RI Advocacy Center director, has been confirmed by the Senate for the leading position of Assistant Administrator with the Environmental Protection Agency in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA). Giles recently completed a confirmation hearing by the U.S Senate after her nomination by the Obama administration last March. Giles will be resigning from her position at CLF.

“It’s with great pride and excitement that we announce Cynthia’s confirmation,” said Bill Coleman, CEO of CLF Ventures. “Cynthia’s leadership has been a tremendous asset to CLF, and we will greatly miss her presence, integrity and tenacity, but wish her the best in this exciting endeavor on the national stage.”

In addition to her four-year tenure at CLF, Giles has an extensive background of 30 years in environmental policy and enforcement. While at CLF, Giles’ work focused on state and regional efforts to combat climate change. She was a key player in getting Rhode Island to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and to adopt California’s standards for reducing green house gas emissions from cars and trucks.

CLF today announced that Tricia O’Hare Jedele will be replacing Giles as the CLF RI Advocacy Center Director. Tricia will join CLF after serving for 10 years as Special Assistant Attorney General with the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Tricia to CLF,” said CLF President John Kassel. “Her experience and stature within the Rhode Island legal community, as well as her passion for and commitment to CLF’s mission, will help us deliver the results that CLF’s supporters want to see, and the planet needs, in Rhode Island and throughout the region.”

During her tenure at the Attorney General’s office, Jedele worked on environmental legal issues in policy, legislative and litigation settings throughout Rhode Island . In particular, Jedele was involved in the Brayton Point Station litigation which led to the settlement and closed-cycle cooling at the power plant. She most recently represented Rhode Island’s environmental agency, working closely with CLF on defending the state’s adoption of California clean car standards.

“Trish Jedele’s passion for protecting our environment has made her very effective in litigating and negotiating complex cases for our state,” said RI Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch said. “In her years as Rhode Island’s Environmental Advocate, and as one of my trusted attorneys, Trish has tackled and made great progress on dozens of challenging issues confronting our state, our country, and, truly, our well being. Her knowledge and tenacity have helped position Rhode Island as a national leader on slowing the pace of climate change, protecting landmark laws such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, and holding the federal government accountable for repairing ecological damages done long ago and continuing into the present. I congratulate Trish for being named to this prestigious position and look forward to working with her as we build on the progress we’ve made together.”

The Conservation Law Foundation (www.clf.org) works to solve the most significant environmental challenges facing New England. CLF’s advocates use law, economics and science to create innovative strategies to conserve natural resources, protect public health and promote vital communities in our region. Founded, in 1966, CLF is a nonprofit, member-supported organization with offices in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.