EPA Chief Confronted by CEO Blaming Him for Plant Permit Denial

The head of an Ohio-based metal recycling company publicly confronted EPA Administrator Michael Regan on Monday over his role in spurring the denial of controversial permits for a plant in Chicago’s Southeast Side.

Reserve Management Group CEO Steve Joseph criticized the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to wade into a closely watched fight against the company’s proposed metal shredder project in a marginalized community in south Chicago. That intervention ultimately led to the project’s denial.

Joseph insisted the General Iron recycling facility is “just not adding to the burden” of the surrounding community. The requested “health impact assessment came out and ...