David D. Dominick papers, 1940-1975

David D. Dominick, attorney and former federal environmental administrator, was born 24 January 1937. He received a B.A. in anthropology from Yale University in 1960. The same year he was also the top graduate of the United States Marine Corps Officers’ Basic School. Dominick then obtained a law degree from the University of Colorado in 1966.

Dominick worked as a legislative assistant for two U.S. senators from Wyoming. He assisted Senator Milward L. Simpson from 1965-1966 and Senator Clifford P. Hansen from 1966-1968. In 1968 he was responsible for personnel placements for the Interior and Agriculture Departments on President-Elect Richard Nixon’s transition team. President Nixon then appointed Dominick as Commissioner of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (FWPCA). At that time the FWPCA was part of the Department of Interior. As Commissioner of the FWPCA, Dominick’s responsibilities included making policy decisions regarding water pollution control, supervising five Assistant Commissioners, ten Regional Offices and numerous national laboratories.

In 1971 President Nixon appointed Dominick as Assistant Administrator for Hazardous Materials Control for the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He was responsible for national programs in pesticides, radiation, solid waste, noise, and toxic substances. As the principal spokesman for Congressional passage of federal pesticides, toxic substances and noise control legislation, Dominick implemented bans on DDT, predator poisons, mercury, and numerous other agricultural and industrial chemicals. He set radon standards for underground uranium mines and initiated resource recovery and hazardous waste programs. His testimony before Congress helped lead to the passage of the 1972 Clean Water Act. In addition, Dominick attended many meetings and conferences around the country, serving as an ambassador of the Nixon Administration’s environmental policies.

Dominick entered into private law practice in 1973. From 1973-1985 he founded and managed his own general practice. He then joined the Denver law firm of Cogswell and Davidson from 1985-1993. His many memberships include the Denver Audubon Society (President, 1984-1986), co-chairman of the Environmental Defense Fund’s Rocky Mountain Regional Advisory Board, and the Colorado Wildlife Foundation. He recently completed a master’s degree in environmental history from Utah State University, with a thesis entitled “The Nixon Environmental Agenda as Seen by a Republican Insider, 1968-1973.” He presently lives in Cody, Wyoming.