To the editor:

Earlier this month Utah’s Gov. Mike Leavitt was appointed to administer the Environmental Protection Agency — the agency in charge of protecting clean water for us to drink and clean air for us to breathe. For this very reason, I am puzzled that a governor with such a poor environmental record was selected.

Just this year, Leavitt brokered two back-door deals with Interior Secretary Norton that threaten to turn America’s national parks, refuges, monuments and other public lands that belong to all Americans into webs of paved roads and highways — lands that are supposed to be protected both now and for future generations. Leavitt’s two deals will make it easier for oil, gas, mining and development companies to dig, drill and build in places that should be protected.

It is wrong for the federal government to approve proposals like these that affect the future of our public lands, without even giving the public an opportunity to participate in the decision-making.

Is this really the type of administrator we need in the EPA? Certainly it seems more appropriate to nominate someone who will value our clean air and our clean water and preserving America’s national parks, refuges and monuments over lining a few corporate pockets. Ourselves, and our children, deserve better.

Jonathan Groene,

Lawrence