The new director of the state Department of Environmental Quality says her background as an oil industry lobbyist won’t interfere with how she does her job.
Heidi Grether says her top priorities are restoring employee morale and public confidence in the DEQ after the Flint water crisis.
Grether says she’s not surprised by criticism of her appointment because she worked as an oil industry lobbyist. She says that experience gives her some perspective.
“But that doesn’t mean I necessarily think a certain way.”
Her work for BP included helping with the response to the Gulf oil spill.
Grether is still undecided on whether an Enbridge energy pipeline beneath the Straits of Mackinac needs to be shut down. She says her oil industry background won’t bias her on the question.