Jim Gilmore is no George Allen, and the new Virginia governor wants to show it by supporting a series of environmental measures that will help him mend fences with environmentalists who battled the conservative Allen constantly. Asked the state police to conduct an investigation into the Department of Environmental Quality's consulting contracts with a one-time campaign treasurer for Allen. Refused to rehire Becky Norton Dunlop, Allen's combative environmental secretary. Taking a hard line on the environment can only hurt a politician over time. That's what Allen did, and Gilmore is determined not to repeat the same mistake.
Environmentalists often cite the figure as evidence of lax enforcement.
Since winning the election, Gilmore has taken the time to meet with environmentalists and discuss their concerns, said Albert C. Pollard Jr., a lobbyist for the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club. But environmentalists said they were disappointed that Gilmore had not supported a bill that would authorize the State Water Control Board to regulate the disposal of poultry waste within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. West Virginia Gov. Cecil Underwood needs to make improving the state's rivers and streams a high priority, a federal environmental official said. The letter faulted Underwood for not pushing for more funding in the state Department of Environmental Protection. If steps aren't taken quickly to help West Virginia meet federal requirements mandated by the Clean Water Act, federal regulators could take over the state's water quality protection program, McCabe said.