JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri's director of the Department of Natural Resources is trading one water controversy -- E. coli -- for one of a larger magnitude: the BP oil spill.
Gov. Jay Nixon announced today that Mark Templeton has resigned as head of DNR to take a job as executive director of the "Office of Independent Trustees" of the BP oil spill fund. Nixon appointed longtime aide Kip Stetzler, an attorney, as interim director of the organization.
Templeton survived a rocky patch as head of DNR when he was criticized for his role in delaying information about high E. coli levels in the Lake of the Ozarks last summer. Nixon briefly suspended Templeton for passing bad information on to the governor's office during the height of the controversy.
But Templeton survived, and DNR has since been very active in closing public beaches because of E. coli levels.
People are also reading…
In a news release announcing the change, Nixon praised Templeton for his stewardship of federal stimulus funds to improve various wastewater systems in the state.
"I appreciate Mark’s service and leadership of numerous projects critical to the protection of Missouri’s natural resources – from our state parks and historic sites, to the safety of our wastewater treatment systems.” Nixon said. “Mark’s effective use of Recovery Act funds made it possible for thousands of Missouri families, farms and businesses to reduce their heating and cooling bills and conserve energy.”
Nixon said there will be a nationwide search for Templeton's replacement.