Brown to shake up environmental posts

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Jerry Brown is ready to make his mark on California’s environmental policy as he prepares to replace the heads of two of the state’s top environmental agencies. Brown’s office confirmed that Lester Snow, the secretary of the state’s Natural Resources Agency, will be replaced when Brown takes office Jan. 3.

Brown’s office said the incoming administration has notified Snow, a Democrat who was the state’s water chief before being named head of the resources agency by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, that he will not be asked to stay on for the Brown administration, a Brown spokesman confirmed.

Brown’s office refused to say who would be replacing Snow.

The agency oversees 25 departments, boards and commissions that guide many of the state’s environmental policies on such issues as coastal policy and wildlife management. The agency oversees ‘most all of the state’s functions designed to protect California’s natural resources,’ according to the agency’s official website.

With Snow’s departure and the expected retirement of Linda Adams, a Gray Davis appointee who has also served as head of the state’s Environmental Protection Agency under Schwarzenegger, Brown will be making his own mark on the state’s environmental policy.

He will also have numerous appointments to the state energy commission and the public utilities commission during his first year in office.

Brown has made clear that he will keep some members of the Schwarzenegger administration in his government. He has already asked Schwarzenegger’s finance director, Ana Matosantos, to head his finance department.

-- Anthony York in Sacramento