Hearing set for DEQ nominee

The Senate has finally scheduled a confirmation hearing for Amanda Smith, the acting head of the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Smith's nomination, made in May, will be considered by the Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Confirmation Committee on Sept. 1. at 10 a.m.

A vote by the full Senate on her nomination is not expected until the Legislature's next interim day, Sept. 16, even though the Senate is meeting in extraordinary session on the afternoon of Sept. 1.

Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said the session agenda will be limited to voting on Gov. Gary Herbert's choice for lieutenant governor, Senate Majority Assistant Whip Greg Bell, R-Fruit Heights.

Smith was named as executive director of the state agency by former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. shortly after he was announced as the next U.S. ambassador to China.

Smith had served as Huntsman's legislative affairs director, handling environmental issues including energy development, water and public lands.

Previously, Smith worked as government relations director for an environmental group, The Nature Conservancy. Lawmakers have blamed logistics rather than politics for the time it took to set Smith's hearing.

That included the delay surrounding the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Huntsman's ambassador posting, which did not come until earlier this month. Herbert was not sworn in as governor until Aug. 11.

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