Governor taps interim DEP chief

AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci nominated the interim commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection to take over leadership of the embattled agency on Wednesday.

David Littell has served as acting head of the DEP since the former commissioner, Dawn Gallagher, resigned two weeks ago amid growing controversy over her dealings with regulated industries.

Before succeeding Gallagher, Littell, of Portland, served as deputy commissioner of the DEP for about two years. He is a 1989 graduate of Princeton University and 1992 graduate of Harvard Law School.

Baldacci praised Littell’s work as deputy commissioner in a brief statement announcing the nomination, singling out his leadership role in Maine’s aggressive policy requiring car manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions emanating from new cars sold in the state.

In an unrelated development Wednesday, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers filed suit in Superior Court to force Maine to scrap the emissions law.

Littell could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but several people who work closely with the DEP cheered his nomination to head the department. The Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources and the full Senate must approve Littell’s appointment.

State Rep. Ted Koffman, co-chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, said he was delighted to hear of Baldacci’s choice. Koffman extolled Littell’s character as well as his knowledge of environmental and legal issues. The Bar Harbor Democrat said he does not anticipate Littell will have any problems receiving the committee’s blessing.

“He has been very forthright and clear and always been available to the committee,” Koffman said. “I am sure he will be an exemplary commissioner … I can’t imagine a better guy to manage our department.”

Pete Didisheim, advocacy director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine, also praised Littell’s record with the DEP.

“We think Dave Littell is smart, competent and an excellent choice by the governor to be the person that helps restore order at the DEP,” Didisheim said.

The Natural Resources Council of Maine played a key role in Gallagher’s resignation.

In a report released last month, the group accused two lawmakers of abusing their political power to benefit industries in which they worked.

One of the legislators, Rep. Tom Saviello of Wilton, turned around and accused Gallagher of offering to drop enforcement action against his employer, International Paper, in exchange for his support on legislation to clean up the Androscoggin River. Saviello said he declined the offer.

The environmental group was also among the loudest critics of river cleanup agreements DEP negotiated in private with Rumford Paper Co. and IP. The Attorney General’s Office said last week that DEP staffers violated Maine’s public records laws by failing to keep documentation of the agreement with Rumford.

In announcing Gallagher’s resignation, Baldacci said the commissioner had acknowledged the two situations could have been handled better. The governor said he plans to place Gallagher elsewhere in his administration but did not specify where. Didisheim and his organization have questioned whether Saviello, a political independent, and the second lawmaker, Republican Rep. Robert Daigle of Arundel, should be allowed to continue to serve on the Natural Resources Committee, which oversees DEP.

On Wednesday, House Speaker John Richardson repeated that he will not make any decisions until he has thoroughly reviewed the allegations against Saviello and Daigle.

“Let me be clear, these charges are serious and if proven factually would obligate me to take action,” Richardson said in a statement. “But let me also be clear that these allegations have not yet been proven and unless and until that happens no action will be taken.”