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The U.S. EPA is denying local media reports that the agency is considering shuttering its Region 5 office and consolidating its activities into Region 7.
The Trump administration has tasked the U.S. EPA with identifying two regional offices for consolidation or elimination, with a decision to be reported to the Office of Management and Budget by June 15. The Chicago Sun Times reported April 15 that the EPA had zeroed in on the Region 5 office, which is based out of Chicago and covers Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. The region would then be wrapped into Region 7, which covers Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.
But the agency vehemently denies that Region 5 is on the chopping block, and agency spokesman Jahan Wilcox said the Times' report is inaccurate. The agency provided S&P Global Market Intelligence with a copy of an April 17 memo sent to staff by Region 5's Acting Regional Administrator Robert Kaplan. In the memo, Kaplan acknowledges the media reports and said "these stories are not true, are pure speculation, and undermine our ability...