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In-Brief

Font to head EPA’s Puerto Rico, USVI office

José Font

José Font

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that José Font has been selected to lead its Caribbean Environmental Protection Division, covering Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The division serves as the primary liaison on environmental issues and problems with Puerto Rico and the USVI governments, as well as with the press, community groups, and regulated industries and authorities.

The Caribbean Environmental Protection Division comprises about 60 people who conduct inspections, identify violations and develop enforcement actions, and implement clean water, drinking water, air, Superfund, hazardous waste, toxics and other EPA programs in Puerto Rico and the USVI.

“I am so pleased to have selected José Font, who is truly dedicated to protecting the people and environment in Puerto Rico and the USVI,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “José is a remarkable person who has demonstrated that he can work with federal, commonwealth, territory and local governments to work out some of the tough environmental challenges that face the Caribbean. Jose Font will be working on a range of issues, including recycling, improving water quality and cleaning up Vieques.”

Font had served as Deputy Director of the Caribbean Environmental Protection Division since February 1997. He started his career with EPA in July 1984 as a project manager in the Superfund program working in the EPA’s office in New York City. As a project manager, Font was responsible for the assessment and remediation of Superfund sites in Puerto Rico and the USVI. In March 1987, he transferred to the EPA’s Caribbean Field Office where he worked both in the Superfund and enforcement programs.

Since 2000, he has served as an adjunct professor at the Universidad Del Turabo and at the Metropolitan University in Puerto Rico, where he teaches graduate environmental courses. Font has also been a member of the External Advisory Board for the Civil Engineering Department of Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico. He has a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemical Engineering from University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus and a Master’s in Business Administration from Universidad del Turabo.

Author Details
Author Details
Business reporter with 30 years of experience writing for weekly and daily newspapers, as well as trade publications in Puerto Rico. My list of former employers includes Caribbean Business, The San Juan Star, and the Puerto Rico Daily Sun, among others. My areas of expertise include telecommunications, technology, retail, agriculture, tourism, banking and most other segments of Puerto Rico’s economy.
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