Ann R. Klee

Ann Renee Klee, of Virginia, was appointed May 28, 2004, in a recess appointment by President George W. Bush to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (General Counsel).

Klee was nominated February 27, 2004, and her nomination was sent to the Senate June 24, 2004; she was confirmed November 21, 2004.

EPA Profile
"Prior to joining EPA, Ann served as Counselor to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior coming on board in January 2001 with Secretary Gale Norton. She was responsible for advising the Secretary and developing policy options on major issues pending before the Department on matters ranging from the Endangered Species Act, resource protection and Everglades to Indian water rights and mining.

"Ann was the Chief Counsel to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee where she was responsible, among other things, for developing legislative strategies for the Chairman on the Clean Water Act, hazardous waste issues, NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, general oversight and enforcement issues. She previously served as Counsel to Senator Dirk Kempthorne's Subcommittee on Drinking Water, Fisheries and Wildlife. She joined Senator Kempthorne's staff in 1995 and, as his environmental counsel, worked on his legislation to reauthorize the Safe Drinking Water Act. In the 105th Congress, she was one of the principal staff responsible for drafting and negotiating Senator Kempthorne's Endangered Species Recovery Act of 1997.

"Prior to joining Senator Kemthorne's staff, Ann was a partner and Chair of the Environmental Group in the D.C. office of the law firm of Preston Gates & Ellis. Her practice covered all aspects of environmental law and policy, including legislation, regulatory developments, general counseling and legislation under the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, Superfund, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ('RCRA'). She has represented transportation, mining and timber trade associations, as well as individual companies in the mining, timber, engineering, high tech, and waste management industries.

"Ann received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986, and her B.A. with High Honors from Swarthmore College in 1983."