U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, conducted a hearing to evaluate the nominations of three individuals for key federal positions. The nominees included Sean McMaster for Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), John Busterud for Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Adam Telle for Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
During the session, Chairman Capito raised questions concerning various pressing issues such as bridge funding through FHWA policy, PFAS contamination efforts, and prioritization within U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects.
In addressing bridge funding, Chairman Capito emphasized West Virginia’s reliance on bridges due to its geography. She stated, “[West Virginia’s] geography requires to have a lot of those bridges. So, we need a strong federal partner in the FHWA.” Sean McMaster responded by acknowledging bridge safety as critical and mentioned his past involvement with projects like the Brent Spence Bridge.
Regarding PFAS contamination, Chairman Capito referred to recent EPA initiatives aimed at tackling this issue. John Busterud highlighted that “PFAS is a high priority issue for EPA” and committed to annual updates on PFAS destruction guidance.
The discussion on U.S. Army Corps project prioritization touched upon challenges related to project slowness and demand exceeding supply. Adam Telle noted that “the Congress is incredibly interested in the projects and work of the Corps of Engineers,” stressing adherence to legal mandates in prioritizing navigation, flood control, and ecosystem restoration projects.
The hearing served as an opportunity for nominees to present their plans and priorities if confirmed for their respective roles.
