Gov. Mike Dunleavy has chosen a state government veteran to be the new commissioner of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

Dunleavy announced Thursday that he has selected Randy Bates, a former head of the department’s Division of Water.

“Randy is uniquely suited to assume the role of commissioner-designee for DEC and continue to push my Administration’s agenda to develop our plentiful resources responsibly and to minimize the impacts for all our actions on the environment,” Dunleavy said in a statement.

Bates, in the statement released by Dunleavy, said he is honored to be appointed. He also reinforced the governor’s emphasis on resource development.

“My primary goal as commissioner will be to continue the department’s mission of balancing the need for responsible development and preserving Alaska’s pristine lands and waters and wildlife,” Bates said in the statement.

Prior to serving as director of DEC’s Division of Water, Bates was director of the Division of Habitat at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He also fishes commercially in Southeast Alaska.

Bates replaces Acting Commissioner Christina Carpenter, who has been in that role since January, when former DEC Commissioner Emma Pokon was appointed as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Northwest regional administrator.

Carpenter is moving to a new job outside of state government but will remain at the department as deputy commissioner through the end of the month to help with the transition, Dunleavy said.

Bates’ appointment is subject to confirmation by the Legislature. Since the Legislature held its annual confirmation joint session on Wednesday, it will be nearly a year before it votes on Bates.

Originally published by the Alaska Beacon, an independent, nonpartisan news organization that covers Alaska state government.