HELENA — Gov. Steve Bullock has appointed a longtime employee of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to be the next director of the agency.
Tom Livers has worked at the Montana DEQ since its creation in the 1990s and has been deputy director for 12 years. He was named interim director when Tracy Stone-Manning left Nov. 20 to become the governor’s chief of staff.
Livers tells the Independent Record he wants to bring together experts on complex issues and improve efficiency and communication involving DEQ programs.
Bullock spokesman Dave Parker says Livers knows the agency well and will work well with diverse interest groups.
Bullock must file Livers’ appointment with the secretary of state and Livers would have to be confirmed by the state Senate.