The state’s new environmental director isn’t so new.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Rod Bremby recently tapped Lawrence resident John Mitchell for the post.

Mitchell has worked at KDHE for 28 years, and he has been the interim director since February when Ron Hammerschmidt retired from the state. But after a national search, Bremby said Mitchell was the best fit to lead the KDHE division.

“I definitely have the knowledge of our programs and how we work,” said Mitchell, also a Lawrence school board member. “I think it also gives me some insight into where we may be able to make some improvements into the future.”

Bremby cited Mitchell’s experience with the KDHE – including previously directing the bureau of environmental field services – before becoming the interim environmental director and applying for the permanent position.

Mitchell is responsible for the environmental bureaus of air and radiation, environmental remediation, environmental field services, waste management and water.

Some of his initial plans include evaluating the permit process for all programs.

“We want to do things the right way, but at the same time we don’t want to take too long to go through the process,” Mitchell said.

He also wants to assess enforcement programs for fees and penalties to make sure they are “realistic.”

The KDHE has received national attention recently and also has been under a microscope from legislators.

Last year, Bremby, citing concerns with greenhouse gas emissions, denied permits for two coal-fired plants near Holcomb in western Kansas. A majority of legislators approved bills to require the plants to be built, but Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed each attempt. Attempts to override her vetoes were unsuccessful.

Mitchell said his staff would support a proposed two-year effort to study an energy policy that would include different industries and groups participating.

“I think it’s going to be something very interesting to follow and ultimately, we’ll see what changes come about as far as state policy goes,” he said.

Mitchell was elected to the Lawrence school board in 2005. He plans to decide by December whether he will run for a second term.