EPA science chief resigns from Hong Kong school
- June 3, 2022
Kevin Bogardus, E&E News
Chris Frey, EPA’s newly Senate-confirmed head of its science office, has resigned from a Hong Kong university that had raised concerns from Republican lawmakers. Frey was confirmed as EPA’s assistant administrator for research and development on May 25. The following day, he resigned from the school.
“Dr. Frey resigned from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, effective May 26,” EPA spokesperson Tim Carroll told E&E News.
Last year, Frey pledged to resign from the university if confirmed, according to his ethics agreement. In February 2021, Frey took an unpaid two-year leave of absence from his adjunct professor job at the university, he said. “Upon confirmation, I will resign from this position,” Frey said in the document.
Frey, who had already been serving at EPA in another position, said in a recusal statement dated earlier last year that he had taken an unpaid leave of absence from the school. That led to scrutiny from GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill.