Head of Miss. environmental agency to resign

Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality chief Trudy Fisher announced in an email to employees Wednesday she will resign her position later this summer after eight years on the job.

"This has not been an easy decision for me, despite believing this is the right time for me," Fisher, 53, said in the email, sent to DEQ employees at 11:34 a.m.

Fisher's surprise decision comes one week after a Hinds County Chancery Court hearing during which her agency's wholesale redaction of public records came under fire. DEQ blacked out hundreds of pages of invoices totaling roughly $6 million.

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Among the purchases were first-class airfare for Fisher and a private contractor, Amy Whitten. The reason for and destination of their trip was redacted.

DEQ attorneys argued the invoices were protected by attorney-client privilege and the attorney work product doctrine. Judge Denise Owens has yet to decide the matter.

It's unclear whether that case had any bearing on Fisher's decision to resign, but plaintiff attorney Matt Eichelberger said it likely didn't help.

"While we cannot speculate on the reasons for Ms. Fisher's decision to resign as director of the Department of Environmental Quality," Eichelberger said, "her decision certainly doesn't change my client's position that the documents he's requested are public record and should be released."

Eichelberger represents journalist and consultant Michael Rejebian.

Fisher could not be reached for comment.

When asked why his boss decided to step down, DEQ spokesman Robbie Wilbur referred a reporter to Fisher's email, which did not provide a reason beyond saying it was the right time.

Wilbur said he didn't learn about Fisher's decision until Wednesday.

Fisher's email said she had informed Gov. Phil Bryant of her intentions earlier in the day and that, after taking some time off, she will explore job options outside state government.

Bryant released a statement thanking Fisher for her service.

"During her time with MDEQ her hard work has been critical to the state after disasters like Hurricane Katrina and leading the recovery from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill," Bryant said. "I wish her well in all her future endeavors. We'll work with her during this transitional stage regarding her replacement."

DEQ regulates air, water and land pollution, regulates water use and functions as the state geological office.

Although Fisher didn't provide an exact date of departure, Bryant said she will stay on board until he names her successor and that she also will assist with the transition.

Fisher, who was first appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour in January 2007, led the agency as Mississippi recovered from two major disasters – first Hurricane Katrina and then the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Both caused widespread environmental damage and both brought millions of dollars in in federal aid to the state as part of massive cleanup and recovery efforts. Fisher helped oversee Katrina recovery efforts for the Barbour administration, including a $640-million water and wastewater infrastructure project.

And she has served as the state's trustee in the BP oil disaster recovery, which has so far overseen more than $70 million in recovery projects. She was designated to oversee Mississippi's part in the federal RESTORE Act, which is expected to direct billions of dollars in clean water fines from the BP disaster to Mississippi and other affected states.

During this time, Fisher has received both praise and criticism for her performance.

A federal report issued in January blasted the state for spending Katrina money on unneeded sewage and wastewater treatment facilities. Fisher said she disagreed with the report's findings.

But State Sen. Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula, chairman of Ports and Marine Resources, said Fisher will be hard to replace, particularly considering her work with the oil disaster recovery and the RESTORE Act.

"My first reaction when I heard this today was shock and surprise, and to say I'm sad to see her go," Wiggins said. "In my time in the Legislature, I found Trudy to be someone I could really work with and who was very knowledgeable and worked very yard. I also thought she has been one of the best agency heads, in terms of running her agency and making sure things get done.

"She's been so instrumental in the (oil disaster) recovery, the person overseeing everything," Wiggins said. "There's a high bar set in finding somebody to replace her, but I'm sure the governor will pick the right person. I just hope the next person has a good concept of what we are facing on the Coast."

Contact Emily Le Coz at (601) 961-7249 or email elecoz@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @emily_lecoz on Twitter. Contact Geoff Pender at (601) 961-7266 or email gpender@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @GeoffPender on Twitter.