Administrative Watch: Van der Vaart Tries a Sneak

Controversial McCrory Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Secretary Donald van der Vaart had one last trick up his sleeve as 2016 and the McCrory Administration sputtered to a close. He quit his job as DEQ Secretary after naming himself to a lower-level DEQ post that is presumed to be immune from political termination.

Critics called the move a “shameless self-demotion” and pointed to van der Vaart’s other recent efforts to pursue an environmental policy post under the incoming Trump Administration in Washington. Van der Vaart’s performance as DEQ Secretary on matters such as attempting to silence dissent by scientists over well water pollution warnings, and his public attack on Cooper’s refusal to join in McCrory’s lawsuit against the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, have almost certainly made him a persona non grata to the incoming governor.

While CIB was not able to confirm this prior to press time, it appeared that van der Vaart returned to heading the Division of Air Quality’s section responsible for handling major air quality permits, a position like the one he held before his promotions under McCrory. This is a trick (called “burrowing in”) occasionally used by a controversial political appointee determined to try to remain at work during a new administration.

Candidly, CIB is left wondering why the now-former DEQ Secretary would attempt such a long-shot maneuver to stay in a state job. Does he genuinely believe that it will enable him to continue to influence state environmental/energy policy in a manner directly contrary to the new governor’s known policy goals? We doubt that an individual with Dr. van der Vaart’s acknowledged academic and professional credentials is that desperate merely to hold on to a state paycheck.

Even if the Trump Administration doesn’t opt to snatch him up, there must be many industry and anti-regulatory ‘think tank’ jobs waiting for a tech-fluent apologist for prioritizing fossil fuel consumption and nuclear waste generation over renewable energy development. We think that would be a better use of his talents, and hopefully wish him ‘bon voyage’ to such a position.

Next up: the highlights and lowlights for our environment in 2016 >>