How Massachusetts’ new DEP commissioner will bring ‘transparency and equity’ to the agency

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts recently appointed a new Commissioner to lead their Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This selection comes with the promise of ushering in a new era of transparency and equity to the agency.

The new Commissioner, Katherine Kennedy, is well-equipped to fulfill this promise. She brings a wealth of experience to the table, having served in a variety of environmental roles at the state, national, and international levels. Kennedy has worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an Air Quality Analyst, and has also served as a policy advisor to the United Nations Environment Programme.

Kennedy’s primary focus as Commissioner will be to ensure that the DEP is open and accountable to Massachusetts citizens. This includes making it easier for citizens to access information about the agency’s activities, as well as ensuring that DEP decisions are equitable and comply with state and federal regulations. Kennedy has already indicated that she plans to revamp the DEP website to make it more user-friendly and to make it easier for citizens to access the information they need.

Kennedy has also stated that she plans to increase the DEP’s focus on environmental justice, particularly for communities of color and low-income communities that are disproportionately impacted by pollution. To this end, Kennedy has pledged to provide greater resources to these communities to help them access the services they need to protect their health and environment.

Kennedy is also committed to ensuring that the DEP is held accountable for its actions, and is dedicated to creating a culture of transparency and trust within the agency. She plans to implement a variety of measures to this end, including a public comment period for proposed regulations, open public meetings, and a commitment to responding to citizen inquiries in a timely fashion.

With Kennedy at the helm, it is clear that the DEP is poised to enter a new era of transparency and equity. The Commissioner’s vision and commitment to the protection of Massachusetts’ environment and its citizens is inspiring, and her tenure promises to be a welcome and much-needed change for the agency.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has recently welcomed a new Commissioner to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and with her appointment comes a commitment to promote transparency and equitable practices in the agency. Katherine Kennedy, the new Commissioner, brings a wealth of experience from her time spent in environmental roles at the state, national, and international levels, including her work as an Air Quality Analyst for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and as a policy advisor for the United Nations Environment Programme.

Kennedy’s primary objective in her new role is to make the DEP more open and accountable to Massachusetts citizens. To this end, she plans to revamp the DEP website to make it more user-friendly and easier to access, as well as increase the focus on environmental justice for communities of color and low-income communities disproportionately impacted by pollution. Kennedy has also pledged to implement measures such as public comment periods for proposed regulations, open public meetings, and timely responses to citizen inquiries to ensure the DEP is held to a higher standard of accountability.

The Commissioner’s vision and commitment to the protection of Massachusetts’ environment and its citizens is inspiring, and her tenure promises to bring forth a new period of transparency and equity for the agency.

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