McCarthy sworn in at EPA after Senate vote

Gina McCarthy was sworn in Friday as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The swearing in took place a day after the Senate confirmed McCarthy in a 59-40 vote.

{mosads}The private ceremony took pace at the EPA’s Washington, D.C., headquarters, bringing to a close a four-month wait since President Obama nominated her for the post.

Robert Perciasepe, the deputy EPA chief who had been leading the agency in an interim capacity, administered the oath. Carol Browner the EPA chief under former President Clinton and also an ex-adviser to President Obama, held the Bible.

The new EPA chief remarked in her thick Boston accent that it was a “wicked cool day,” inciting cheers from attendees, according to an official readout of the event.

McCarthy also emerged on social media with the Twitter handle @GinaEPA. 

“Thrilled about new job as EPA Administrator. Time to get to work. Guess I need to learn how to tweet now…,” the new EPA chief sent for her inaugural tweet.

McCarthy was most recently the EPA’s top air quality regulator.

She helped set in motion an array of rules that have generated support from liberals, environmental organizations and public health groups, which say the measures will help mitigate climate change and improve health.

But they’ve been the subject of attacks from Republicans, coal-state Democrats and industry, which say the rules will raise power prices and slow the economy.

— This story was updated at 1:25 p.m.