By Warren Lutz,
Record Staff Writer
Friday, Nov 18, 2005
Environmental advocacy group Baykeeper has hired a new activist to oversee Deltakeeper, its Stockton-based arm.
Carrie McNeil, a veterinarian who has worked for the California Legislature and as an environmental consultant, becomes the new Deltakeeper chief Dec. 1. She said she looks forward to tackling the Delta's myriad environmental issues and promised to hold polluters accountable.
"Deltakeeper has such as good reputation as being such a strong advocate for the Delta," McNeil said. "It just seemed like a great opportunity to come and work on so many issues I care about in a way that brings together science, policy, advocacy, public education and outreach, and sometimes litigation."
McNeil graduated from University of California, San Diego, with a bachelor's degree in biology. She worked for the California State Assembly and the state Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee, where she helped developed laws involving abandoned mine cleanup, storm water pollution, metal contamination and nuclear waste.
She also has experience in dairy herd management and most recently worked as a legal consultant on lawsuits involving massive oil spills and toxic poisoning in Ecuador, according to Baykeeper.
Since 1994, Deltakeeper has monitored pollution in local waterways and often took public agencies and polluters to court to protect Delta waters. The first Deltakeeper chief, Bill Jennings, resigned in August.
Kari Burr, the acting director of Deltakeeper, recently announced she was leaving to join the Fisheries Foundation. McNeil said among her first goals will be to find a new Deltakeeper office and hire an assistant director.
Contact reporter Warren Lutz at 209 546-8295 or wlutz@recordnet.com