David Dominick, Commissioner of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (1969-1970)

David Dominick describes growing up in Wyoming and his developing interest in the environment

Audio Track - Chapter 1 - 5 minutes

THE INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS

The individual "chapters" of the discussion are available for viewing individually as is the complete interview (103 minutes).

Chapter 1: Growing Up in Wyoming (5 minutes)

David Dominick describes growing up in Wyoming and his developing interest in the environment

Chapter 2: Move to Washington (22 minutes)

David Dominick describes the interesting days at the beginning of the Nixon Administration with the appointment of Wally Hickel, Governor of Alaska, as the Secretary of the Interior, and environmental moments in the early days of the Administration, including the Santa Barbara oil spill.

Chapter 3: Commissioner of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (22 minutes)

David Dominick describes his tenure as head of the Water Pollution Control program in the Department of the Interior, his battles with Assistant Secretary Carl Klein, the efforts of Murray Stein, Assistant Commissioner for Enforcement, and the initial drafting of what beame the Clean Water Act of 1972.  Dominick also tells of how the sewage treatment grants were increased from a few million dollars to over $4 Billion.

Chapter 4: Dealing with Congress and Interest Groups ( minutes)

Dominick describes his work with Senator Muskie, his interaction with the "Nader's Raiders" who conducted a 15-month investigation of the program, and the importance of the growing environmental movement just before the creation of EPA.

THE INTERVIEW AS A WHOLE (103 minutes)

David Dominick relates his coming to Washington from Cody, Wyoming as a young man and being appointed by Interior Secretary Wally Hickel to be the Commissioner of the Water program in the Department of the Interior, and his experiences there.

The introduction to the interview is as follows:

David Dominick describes his first environmental experiences as a boy in Cody, Wyoming, his coming to Washington, DC at the beginning days of the Nixon Administration, the behind-the-scenes happenings with the White House and the Interior Department, and his experiences running the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration.  Highlights include the increase in the Water Program's grant program to over $4 Billion, the 15-month investigation of the program by "Nader's Raiders",  and the creation of the first draft of what became the Clean Water Act of 1972.

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