Governor Jeanne Shaheen has nominated Dana Bisbee to be the next commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services.
Bisbee is currently the Assistant Commissioner.
NHPR's Doug MacPherson reports.
IF CONFIRMED BY THE GOVERNOR?S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, DANA BISBEE WOULD REPLACE ROBERT VARNEY, WHO LEFT D-E-S TO BECOME THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. GOVERNOR SHAHEEN SAYS SHE IS DELIGHTED WITH HER NOMINEE.
TAPE SHAHEEN dana obviously has a long record of public service to the state of new hampshire, serving in the attorney general?s office, and has served since 1995 as the assistant commissioner at the department. He is very well qualified, and I?m pleased that he has agreed to be nominated as commissioner. :20
BISBEE IS A 49-YEAR OLD REGISTERED INDEPENDENT AND RESIDENT OF CONCORD. HE ATTENDED DARTMOUTH COLLEGE AND SERVED IN THE PEACE CORPS BEFORE GRADUATING FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL IN 1981. HE THEN WORKED FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL?S OFFICE FOR 14 YEARS, SERVING IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BUREAU FOR EIGHT YEARS BEFORE BECOMING AN ASSOCIATE AND THEN DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL. HE WAS NAMED ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF D-E-S IN 1995.
BISBEE DECLINED TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THIS STORY PENDING THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS, BUT SAID HE WAS PLEASED AND HONORED TO BE NOMINATED.
SOMEONE WHO KNOWS BISBEE WELL IS ROBERT CHENEY, AN ATTORNEY IN CONCORD WHO ONCE WORKED ALONGSIDE BISBEE IN THE A-G?S OFFICE. CHENEY EXPECTS BISBEE WOULD WORK TO SIMPLIFY AND STREAMLINE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR BUSINESSES TO COMPLY.
TAPE CHENEY dana is a tremendous listener. I think he can hear what the issues and concerns are from, if you will, both sides of the fence. He?s a smart man. I think this is an opportunity for the department of environmental services to maybe regroup and consolidate many of the programs that are in existence right now. :22
AT THE SAME TIME, CHENEY HAS NO DOUBT THAT BISBEE WOULD DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ENFORCE THE STATE?S ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. D-E-S HAS BEEN CRITICIZED IN THE PAST AS RELUCTANT TO PENALIZE LAW-BREAKERS ? PREFERRING INSTEAD TO SEEK VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE. NANCY GIRARD, HEAD OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CHAPTER OF THE CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION, SAYS SHE BELIEVES D-E-S NEEDS TO PROVIDE A STRONGER DETERRENT TO POTENTIAL LAWBREAKERS.
TAPE GIRARD when you have a situation where someone is basically flaunting the law and the regulations in the state, I think the department of environmental services should be a lot more attune to those types of individuals, because they?re the individuals that the rest of the business community pick up on.
GIRARD SAYS SHE?S PLEASED WITH BISBEE?S NOMINATION AND BELIEVES HE WOULD MAKE A THOUGHTFUL AND PRAGMATIC COMMISSIONER.
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON BISBEE?S NOMINATION AT ITS NEXT MEETING ON OCTOBER 10TH.
FOR N-H-P-R NEWS, I?M DOUG MACPHERSON.
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