Trey Glenn resigns as ADEM director

Trey Glenn has resigned as director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). He had held the post since 2005. Agency executive counsel John Hagood has been named interim director, according to a report today on al.com by David White. ADEM, under Glenn's leadership, has often been criticized by environmental groups in the state who alleged that the agency was not sufficiently zealous in working to enforce environment laws.

The ADEM Reform Coalition released a statement today reacting to Glenn's resignation in which they expressed hope that a new director "will help transform the agency into one that is more protective of human health and the environment." The statement added that ADEM "has a long way to go in order to adequately protect the citizens of Alabama from harmful pollutants in the air and water."

The Southern Environmental Law Center, based in Charlottesville, Va., also released a statement. "We hope the Environmental Management Commission, in appointing a new leader for ADEM, will use this opportunity to re-dedicate the agency to its mission of safeguarding Alabama's natural resources and vigorously enforcing laws designed to protect our land, water and air," SELC senior attorney Gil Rogers said.

The official announcement of Glenn's resignation has been posted on the ADEM web site.