DEQ executive director Kim Shelley to leave post
The head of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality is leaving her position — an announcement issued after disgruntled employees contacted media outlets asserting Kim Shelley's departure was a force-out. The change takes effect at the end of January.
The agency's communications director Ashley Sumner issued this statement on Thursday:
'Under Kim's leadership, DEQ has achieved many significant milestones that will have a lasting, positive impact on Utah's air, land, and water. We are grateful for her leadership and dedication to our mission throughout her tenure, and look forward to her continued focus and success on environmental priorities in her future endeavors.'
An engineer by training, Shelley previously served as deputy director of the agency's five divisions. In that role she was responsible for ensuring Utah maintains primacy for the implementation of federal environmental programs and for assuring outreach and coordination with industry, federal, state and local partners.
Prior to being named deputy director, Shelley was the assistant director of the Division of Water Quality and manager of the Surface Water Discharge Program. She has also overseen the permitting of complex wastewater and water projects and was previously appointed by Gov. Gary Herbert to represent the state on the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum and Advisory Council.
Before joining the Division of Water Quality, Shelley worked in the Division of Environmental Response and Remediation's underground storage tank program. In addition to her public sector experience, Shelley has experience in private industry as a research and development engineer.Shelley was raised in Salt Lake City and is a graduate of the University of Utah with a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering.
She was appointed as department head in December 2020.
Gov. Spencer Cox's office did not immediately have a statement on her departure or who would take her place in the interim.
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