WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate confirmed Stephen Owens, former director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), to serve as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Assistant Administrator for the Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. The position has jurisdiction over the Office of Pesticide Programs, which is the federal government's principal pesticide regulatory agency.
Owens was the longest serving director in ADEQ's history, serving under former Governor Janet Napolitano from January 2003 until January 2009. In September 2008, Owens was elected President of the Environmental Council of the States, the national state environmental agency directors' association.
Owens previously served as chief counsel for then U.S. Senator Al Gore and for Congressional committees.