Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today appointed Caswell F. Holloway as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection.  Holloway currently serves as Chief of Staff to Deputy Mayor for Operations Edward Skyler and as Special Advisor to Mayor Bloomberg.  Since 2006, he has been tasked with spearheading solutions to some of the City's most complex issues.  For instance, he took a leading role in the writing and implementation of the Administration's report on the health impacts of September 11th and led negotiations on 9/11 health legislation that has been introduced in both houses of Congress.  Following the tragic fire at 130 Liberty Street, he led a comprehensive review of abatement and demolition operations that resulted in a recently completed overhaul of the asbestos abatement process.  He also played a lead role in developing the City's comprehensive cleanup plan for the Gowanus Canal, and in the passage and implementation of the City's new Solid Waste Management Plan.  He will replace Acting Commissioner Steven Lawitts, who has served as Acting Commissioner since the departure of Commissioner Emily Lloyd last October. The Mayor announced the appointment in the Blue Room of City Hall, where he was joined by Deputy Mayor Skyler. Commissioner Holloway will begin work at the Department of Environmental Protection in January.

"Since he came to City Hall, Cas has worked a couple of desks away from me and I have watched him take on some of the toughest assignments and deliver solutions, from 9/11 health to the Gowanus Cleanup to reforming demolition procedures in the wake of the tragic 130 Liberty Street fire," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "I've seen him work closely with senior managers at a range of City agencies on matters large and small, with a singular focus on results. Under Cas's leadership, we're going to complete vital infrastructure projects like the Third Water Tunnel, improve security of our city's 2,000-square-mile watershed, and move forward with DEP's ten-year, $13 billion capital program. I want to thank Steve Lawitts for leading this agency during the transition period, and I know Cas will build on his good work."

"Cas has been my right hand and the person I would turn to when we needed results on challenging issues," said Deputy Mayor Skyler.  "His intelligence, judgment and work ethic translated into immediate success at City Hall and I know he will continue to deliver at DEP. The agency is responsible for some of the most important duties in the City and Cas will ensure we continue to meet our ambitious goals for protecting our drinking water, improving water quality in the waterways around the City and modernizing customer service for ratepayers."

"New York City has the best drinking water in the nation, and the waterways that surround us have always been a key to the City's prosperity," said Commissioner Holloway. "Mayor Bloomberg has led the way in making the investments necessary to prepare our water and sewer infrastructure for the next century, and I am thrilled at the opportunity to work with the talented and dedicated team at DEP to continue that effort, and to press forward aggressively to open as much of our waterfront as possible to renewed investment and recreation."

In addition to his leadership roles in 9/11 health matters, the Gowanus cleanup, reforming demolition procedures and the solid waste management plan, Commissioner Holloway has started key initiatives like the new citywide public recycling program and worked with the Fire Department to implement new inspection protocols and safety measures for first responders on construction sites.  Over the last year, Cas led the negotiations that resulted in the Project Labor Agreements announced last week, which will allow the City to save money on and invest more in major infrastructure projects.  The agreements include provisions that will ensure better access to good construction jobs for Minority and Women-owned small-business enterprises.

The Department of Environmental Protection's more than 6,000-person staff is responsible for the City's air and water quality, for the safety and operation of a water supply system that serves more than 8.5 million people daily, for collecting and processing wastewater, and for enforcing compliance in the handling and disposal of hazardous materials. The department operates with a $1 billion annual budget.

Commissioner Holloway graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College and graduated with honors from University of Chicago Law School.  Prior to joining the Mayor's Office, Commissioner Holloway was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and served as law clerk to Judge Dennis G. Jacobs, now Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Prior to Law School, Commissioner Holloway also served as Chief of Staff at the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. He lives in Brooklyn Heights with his wife.

The replacement search was led by Nathan Leventhal, Chairman of the Mayor's Committee on Appointments, and Andrea Shapiro Davis, Special Advisor to the Mayor.