David P. Littell
David P. Littell is commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). He was appointed acting commissioner and nominated by Governor John Baldacci in December 2005, and confirmed by the Maine Senate in January 2006. He served as the agency’s deputy commissioner for two years before being appointed as commissioner.
Commissioner Littell directs DEP’s many programs to protect and improve public health and Maine’s water, air and environmental quality. The Department of Environmental Protection employs more than 400 scientists, engineers, geologists and environmental specialists in four offices across the state.
Under his leadership, Maine has made notable environmental advancement. Maine DEP entered into and is implementing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in addition to shepherding Maine’s Climate Action Plan to reduce global warming. Maine has adopted and implemented model wildlife area protections for vernal pools, and wading bird, waterfowl and shorebird habitats. Maine also adopted and is implementing the most comprehensive plan in the U.S. to maintain stream, brook, river and lake seasonal water levels to protect the entire eco-chain of life, from photoplankton to top predators.
In addition, Maine has pursued a number of toxics reduction initiatives under his leadership including the Governor’s Task Force on Safer Chemical Usage in Consumer Products, adoption of comprehensive legislation to reduce toxics in consumer products, implementation of water toxics standards, and implementation of the Maine Air Toxics Initiative (MATI). Maine has also continued its efforts to reduce environmental mercury levels and implemented product bans of three types of flame retardants.
Commissioner Littell is representing Maine regionally and nationally as chair of the New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) Environment Committee; chair of MANE-VU (the Mid-Atlantic Northeast Visibility Union), a 14 state and Indian tribe coordinated effort to reduce visibility-impairing pollutants under the Clean Air Act; vice-chair of RGGI Inc., which is coordinating administration of the first greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system in the U.S.; and chair of the Cross Media committee of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), which is focusing on emerging contaminant issues and innovations in environmental programs on behalf of the 50 state environmental directors, commissioners and secretaries.
In 2004, Commissioner Littell directed the successful environmental response at the Lincoln and Brewer mills and by so doing, saved the State millions of dollars in remediation costs. The response resulted in the Lincoln mill being reopened rather than turned into a hazardous waste site. It also resulted in the City of Brewer taking title to the former Brewer mill and reaching a redevelopment agreement to turn that site into a commercial success as a Cianbro Corporation facility rather than becoming an abandoned hazardous waste site. Commissioner Littell has focused on program innovation to lower costs and make DEP business practices more efficient while increasing environmental protection. These efforts include streamlining the permitting process for applicants. A number of permit streamlining initiatives have maintained the Maine DEP’s excellent record of processing times as permitting volume has increased from 3,500 permits to almost 5,000 permits issued per year over the last decade. Internal innovations, such as better use of information technology and enhanced program review, have ensured state resources are maximized during tough fiscal times.
David Littell graduated with honors from Harvard Law School where he was managing editor of the Harvard Environmental Law Review and was president of the Board of Student Adviser’s moot court board, which taught writing and argument to first-year law students. At Princeton as an undergraduate he concentrated his studies in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, graduated magna cum laude, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and served as class president and chair of Princeton’s Honor Committee.
Prior to joining MEDEP David was a partner at Maine’s largest law firm. In private practice as an environmental attorney, he represented businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small private operations as well as individuals and municipalities in all aspects of environmental law from litigation, to regulatory matters and land use. His practice included litigation in multiple federal and state court proceedings. He was also the lead lawyer in negotiating an innovative hazardous waste settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and hundreds of private parties which transferred all clean-up obligations to a third-party in exchange for a cash-out settlement.
Throughout his professional career, Commissioner Littell has made a personal commitment to public service. David has been involved in organizations devoted to environmental conservation and economic development, including Portland Trails (president and trustee), the Downtown Portland Corporation (president and director), Casco Bay Estuary Partnership (board member), and multiple committees advancing Portland’s Bayside Brownfield Redevelopment. He served on the Maine CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Advisory Committee and represented children as a guardian in child-protective proceedings.
Outside the environmental arena, he has served as an intelligence officer in the United States Naval Reserve, twice at Brunswick Naval Air Station, resigning as a lieutenant commander in 2003. He lives in Portland with his wife and two children who enjoy outdoor activities including hiking, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and canoeing and are members of St. Ansgar Lutheran Church.
