NORTH LITTLE ROCK— Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Bailey Taylor to serve as the Director of the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment’s Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Chief Administrator of Environment. Bailey Taylor is currently serving as interim Chief Administrator of Environment.

“I am excited to work with Bailey in her new role as DEQ Director and Chief Administrator of the Environment. Bailey’s experience, knowledge, background, and continued focus on environmental program advancement makes her uniquely qualified for this position. Bailey understands the importance of the Department of Energy and Environment’s mission of protecting our environment for the well-being of all Arkansans, ensuring Arkansas remains the Natural State, and promoting economic and resource development,” said Shane Khoury, Secretary of the Department of Energy and Environment.

“I am honored and excited to be chosen by Governor Sanders to fulfill the role as Chief Administrator of the Environment and DEQ Director. DEQ’s robust programs enable the regulatory community to confidently operate while being protective of the environment. It is important that we work with stakeholders to understand and address challenges in a manner that best serves the state and all Arkansans,” said Bailey Taylor.   

Taylor has been with DEQ since April 2017 and previously served as the Associate Environment Administrator, interim Associate Director for Land Resources, Deputy Associate Director for the Office of Water Quality, Policy and Administration Manager for the Office of Land Resources, and Enforcement Analyst and Coordinator in the Office of Water Quality.  Prior to joining DEQ, Taylor worked as an environmental scientist on a toxicology emergency response team for incidents across North America.

Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas. Taylor and her husband, Todd, live in East End and have two sons. Taylor has a passion for the environment and enjoys spending time hunting and fishing on the White River National Wildlife Refuge.

CONTACT: [email protected]

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