Baldacci nominates veteran state employee for top DEP post

Gov.-elect John Baldacci on Thursday named a lawyer and longtime state employee to head up Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection.

Dawn Gallagher of Hallowell most recently served as deputy commissioner of the Department of Conservation under Gov. Angus King, and has spent more than 20 years working in state government. Gallagher has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Maine and a law degree from the University of Maine School of Law.

“Dawn’s leadership will ensure that we keep the strong connection between our environment, our communities and our people,” Baldacci said in a statement released Thursday.

Reached on the road Thursday, Gallagher said she had been interested in a position at either DEP or the Department of Conservation.

Her experience in working to improve energy conservation at the Public Utilities Commission and her years in Augusta with the Department of Conservation are a “good fit” with the DEP post, she said.

“My dad always said, ‘The place you need is the place that needs you most,'” she said.

Gallagher espouses many of Baldacci’s goals for the state, particularly in boosting cooperation among state and federal agencies to solve environmental problems, such as air pollution drift and development sprawl.

“I’ve had a lot of experience in interagency cooperation,” she said.

During her six years at the Conservation Department, Gallagher put her law degree to use as the department’s legal adviser and legislative liaison. She represented the department on issues ranging from sustainable forest certification to the controversial John’s Bridge canoe launch on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway to Atlantic salmon management.

Gallagher also is a member of the Maine Indian State Tribal Commission.

“In these times of budget constraints, her experience and skill at building consensus will be invaluable in working with the general public, the Legislature and the regulated community,” Baldacci said. “This is also a time for cooperation and collaboration with other agencies in natural resources so that we maintain the focus on the highest level of sustainable quality of our land, air and water.”

Making Maine government a model for conservation with the use of hybrid cars, nonpolluting chemicals and sustainably produced products would be a major emphasis of the department under her leadership. Such a government would encourage businesses and individual households to follow suit, Gallagher said.

“I think we can work with individuals to say, ‘This is the best way to maintain strong standards and sustainability,'” she said.

Lee Umphrey, spokesman for the incoming Baldacci administration, said a commissioner for the Department of Conservation also has been chosen, and that the nominee likely will be announced next week.

Interviews of potential candidates for the post of commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are continuing, he said.

Gallagher’s nomination has to be confirmed by the state Senate.

The DEP is concerned primarily with licensing and permitting for projects and activities that have an impact on air, water and land quality.

The Conservation Department oversees management of forests, unorganized territory, state parks and public lands.

Baldacci’s transition team has announced three Cabinet nominations.

Chief Deputy Secretary of State Rebecca Wyke is the governor-elect’s choice for commissioner of finance and administration, which administers state taxes and pays the state’s bills.

Marine Resources Commissioner George Lapointe would stay on the job as top regulator of the commercial fishing industry, and former Bangor lawmaker Robert Murray was nominated to head Maine’s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.