By John E. Mulligan
Journal Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The nomination of Rhode Islander Cynthia J. Giles to the Environmental Protection Agency's chief enforcement officer appears to be headed for swift confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Giles and two other nominees to top jobs at the agency won plaudits Tuesday morning from members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which will make recommendations to the full Senate on whether to seat them. "Obviously, you're not going to have a problem, any one of you," a senior member of the panel, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., told Giles and the other nominees.

For her part, the Barrington resident told the committee, "Over the course of my 30-year career in environmental law and policy, I have worked in just about every major area of environmental protection." She added, "Compliance with the law is essential to secure the public benefits that the laws are designed to achieve."

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse introduced Giles to fellow committee members, saying, "Over the years, she has repeatedly proven herself to be a vigorous, successful, and politically savvy advocate for the public good."