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Eckardt C. Beck
Biography
[EPA press release - December 18, 1979]
In his last assignment, Beck served as EPA's Regional Administrator for Region II, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Serving in that capacity from August 1977 until mid-September 1979, he was directly responsible for all environmental programs established under the broad range of Federal legislation.
Before his assignment as Regional Administrator, Beck was EPA's Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water Planning and Standards at the Agency's Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In that capacity he managed the Nation's industrial water pollution clean-up program. He was also instrumental to the development of the Areawide Water Quality Management Program under Section 208 of the Clean Water Act, the Agency's effort to protect wetlands, and the toxic substances control program. He held that position from May 1975 to August 1977.
The Office of Water Planning and Standards is one of the offices Beck will supervise in his new role as Assistant Administrator. He will also be responsible for the Office of Drinking Water, the Office of Water Program Operations (ocean dumping, sewage construction), and the Office of Solid Waste.
Prior to joining EPA, Beck served as Deputy Commissioner of Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection from October 1973 to March 1975. There he helped design the first State Implementation Plan to control air pollution. He also established one of the first State Resource Recovery authorities, and was an innovator in setting up new air pollution enforcement programs. He was also active in State energy policy, establishing and directing the Connecticut Energy Agency and serving as the Governor's chief advisor on energy policy.
Beck began his career in public service in 1969 as Air Pollution Control Office with the City of Stamford, Connecticut.
A 1968 graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Beck received a master's degree in Public Administration in 1972 from New York University. He also attended Yale University's Graduate School of Epidemiology and Public Health, and holds a graduate certificate in Air Pollution Administration from the Graduate School of Public Administration, University of Southern California.
Beck is a native of Rockville Centre, New York. He will reside in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife, son and daughter.