China's State Council says Xie Zhenhua, director of China's State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), has resigned.
"Xie submitted a resignation request to the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council. The request has been approved," said a joint circular from the general offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the Chinese cabinet.
Xie is blamed on a toxic chemical spill that polluted a major river in northeast China which inflicted several days of water stoppage.
A circular from the State Council said the environmental administration underestimated the serious consequences likely to be arising from the pollution and was held responsible for the huge losses from the pollution accident. Xie took the blame and asked to quit.
Xie will be replaced by Zhou Shengxian, former director of the State Forestry Administration.
