Russell-Train-Obituary

Russell Train

Obituary

WASHINGTON (AP) - Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Russell Train, a leading American conservationist who helped craft some of the nation's enduring environmental laws, died Monday at age 92.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said late Monday that as a leader with the federal agency at the time it was just starting under the Nixon administration, Train helped set the path for the ongoing work of the agency.

"His years with the agency saw landmark environmental achievements whose impacts are still felt," Jackson said in a statement, citing laws such as the Toxic Substance Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act that help protect the nation's water.

Train came to symbolize the bipartisan nature of the environmental movement more than 40 years ago when many conservatives were enthusiastic advocates of environmentalism.

Train was appointed by President Dwight Eisenhower to the bench of the Tax Court in 1957. The Washing ton Post said that around that time he and his wife took two safari expeditions to East Africa and the experiences had an impact on him that lasted throughout his life.

In 1965, he left the Tax Court to take over the presidency of the Conservation Foundation, a research and education organization.

Newly elected President Richard Nixon named him undersecretary of the Interior Department and in 1970 he became the first chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, an advisory group to the president. The EPA was started in 1970 and William Ruckelshaus was its first administrator. When Ruckelshaus left to take over the FBI during the Watergate scandal, Train was chosen to lead the EPA.

He stayed in the post through the Gerald Ford presidency and had a hand in other landmark environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Air Act.

The chairwoman of the Council on Environmental Quality, Nancy Sutley, said Train played a pivotal role in t he government's efforts to protect the environment.

"He was a serious and widely respected voice on environmental issues at a time when Americans first became broadly aware of the dangers posed by pollution to our air, waters and soils," Sutley said. "On his watch, the United States stood up many of our landmark safeguards for public health and the environment."

Train also served as the first president of the World Wildlife Fund's American chapter, leading that group from 1978 to 1985.

The Post said Train died Monday at his farm in the town of Bozman on Maryland's Eastern Shore. There was no cause of death reported.


Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Guest Book

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Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.

To the family of Mr. Train,may God's peace and comfort surround you.That comfort is found in God's word the Bible:"Happy are those who mourn,since they will be comforted".matt.5:4

To the Family of Russell Train,
We are sorry about the loss of Mr.Train. He set a fine example in taking care of helpless animals. Let us do our part for the earth and all that is upon it belongs to God. For God stated,"To me belongs every wild animal of the forest. The beast upon a thousand mountains.
I know every winged creature of the mountains...and the animal throngs of the open field."(Psalms 50:10,11)
Take comfort in the God of all comfort for he will...

May the God of all comfort be with you at this time of grief, may all Russell's memories stay close to your hearts. Psalms 46:1 Joanna

Our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Train. I worked at EPA during his tenure. He will be greatly missed. May our Heavenly Father, the GOd of comfort and tender mercies be with you all. With deep sympathy,

I am deeeply sorry for your loss. God gives us hope to see our loved ones again on the earth where Russell worked so hard to protect.

He will be missed

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

I met Mr. Train in 1979 in San José, Costa Rica on wildlife trade. I was the youngest speaker on the panel. Russell Train was a most kind and cordial person at the meetings and at dinner, in spite of the 30 year age difference. I am sorry I did not stay in touch with him.