|
New Division of Governmental Coordination director named
Kristen Nelson, PNA editor-in-chief
Bill Jeffress has been appointed director of the Division of Governmental Coordination. He started Feb. 3 and for the time being will be working out of the Anchorage office.
Jeffress has worked in both the mining and timber industries.
He spent several years working in the Nevada mining industry and in 1992 moved to Alaska to work on the Fort Knox and True North Mines. He was manager of environmental services for Fairbanks Gold Mining Inc., a subsidiary of the Kinross Gold Corp., until Jan. 31 when he resigned to become director of DGC.
In addition to working for the private sector, DGC said Jeffress also has experience working with government. He spent six years working under a cooperative agreement between the state of Nevada and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, to develop and implement a pesticides and toxics program.
"I'm excited to be working with Gov. Murkowski's administration and the Division of Governmental Coordination in this time of transition," Jeffress said in a statement.
"We'll be working to improve the overall efficiency of the Alaska Coastal Management Program while we meet the administration's goals to promote responsible resource development," he said.
Executive orders expected "We do have a new director," and the Division of Governmental Coordination is still in the governor's office, the governor's press secretary, John Manley, told Petroleum News Alaska Feb. 7. Manley said DGC "will be moving over to DNR at some point." Executive orders for that move are expected the week of Feb. 10, he said. (See update on page 15.)
Gov. Frank Murkowski said in his state-of-the state address Jan. 23 that he planned to make the Department of Natural Resources the lead agency for all state permitting. The governor also said he planned to streamline the Alaska Coastal Management Program, and would be transferring responsibility for that program from the Office of the Governor to DNR and eliminating the Division of Governmental Coordination in the governor's office “in favor of the Department of Natural Resources as the lead agency.” The governor also said the administration would work with “coastal communities to ensure that their interests are protected.”
| 