Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet
EPPC Secretary Vance announces appointments

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 8, 2008) – Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet Secretary Robert D. Vance today announced the promotions of two veteran cabinet employees to senior management positions.

R. Bruce Scott has been appointed commissioner of the Department for Environmental Protection (DEP). For the past three years, Scott has served as director of that department’s Division of Waste Management. In that capacity, Scott oversaw major expansion in the division’s oversight of historic landfill cleanup, household hazardous waste disposal, litter abatement and open dump cleanup. His division also made efficiency improvements in several areas, including the underground storage tank and solid waste permitting programs.

Scott is a 24-year veteran of the state environmental protection agency, joining DEP in August 1983 as an environmental engineer. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of Kentucky and is a registered professional engineer.

As commissioner of DEP, Scott will provide leadership to seven agencies, including the divisions of Waste Management, Water and Air Quality.

The cabinet’s new executive director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs is Holly McCoy-Johnson. She served most recently as executive staff advisor in the Department for Natural Resources, where her duties included legislative development.

A 13-year veteran of state government, McCoy-Johnson joined the cabinet in May 1997 as a staff assistant in the former Department of Mines and Minerals, where she wrote proposed legislation. Before joining the cabinet, she previously held communications positions in the Department for Medicaid Services and the Kentucky Health Policy Board.

McCoy-Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Morehead State University.

In her new position, she will oversee the cabinet’s legislative agenda on behalf of Governor Steve Beshear’s administration.

“I’m pleased to promote Bruce and Holly to these critically important positions,” said Secretary Vance. “Their talent and experience will be great assets to us as we take on the exciting challenges that await the cabinet.”