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Maia Bellon
Director of the Washington Department of Ecology
In office
February 2013 – 2020
GovernorJay Inslee
Preceded byTed Sturdevant
Succeeded byLaura Watson
Personal details
Born
Maia D. Bellon
Alma materEvergreen State College
Arizona State University
OccupationLawyer

Maia D. Bellon[1] is an American attorney and former government official from the State of Washington. She served as Director of the Washington Department of Ecology from 2013 to 2020.[2] A member of the Mescalero Apache, Bellon was the first Native American to serve as a member of the Washington cabinet.[3]

Early life and education

Bellon's father, Richard Bellon, served as the executive director of the Chehalis Tribe. Her mother, Rio Lara-Bellon, was writer and teacher. Bellon's family lived below the poverty line, and, as such, outdoor activities were her family's main source of recreation growing up. Bellon cites her experience "romping around in the woods" and fishing as formative for her environmental advocacy.[4]

Bellon received her undergraduate education from Evergreen State College in 1991. Her first political involvement was as an intern for Congresswoman Jolene Unsoeld of Washington's 3rd district.[4] In 1994, Bellon graduated from Arizona State University Law School.[5]

Career

State government

Bellon served in the ecology office of the Washington Attorney General from 1994 to 2000.[6] Bellon first joined the Department of Ecology in 2011, initially as the head of its water resources program. She was appointed Director of the Department of Ecology by newly-inaugurated Governor Jay Inslee in February 2013,[7] succeeding former Director Ted Sturdevant.[8] Her appointment made Bellon the first Native American to hold state cabinet office in Washington.[3]

Upon taking office, commentators highlighted leaking radioactive waste at the Hanford Site as a key challenge facing the Department of Ecology.[9] In 2019, Bellon wrote to the federal Department of Energy to voice her concern about the department's protocol for storing high-level radioactive waste (HLW).[10] As Director, Bellon pushed for stronger water quality standards.[11]

As Director of the Department of Ecology, Bellon testified before Congress against the Trump Administration's proposed changes to the Clean Water Act.[12] Under Bellon's leadership, the Department of Ecology denied a permit for a proposal to build what would've been the largest coal export terminal in North America. Bellon described the proposed project as one with "too many unavoidable and negative environmental impacts for the project to move forward".[13]

In her role, Bellon was also responsible for overseeing the development of proposed marsh buffers.[14] Bellon reportedly helped convince Governor Inslee to enact the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan for water conservation.[15]

Post-government

Bellon announced her resignation in December 2019,[7] and was succeeded in her position by Laura Watson, an Assistant Washington Attorney General.[16] After leaving office, Bellon returned to private practice as an environmental lawyer at Cascadia Law Group. In this role, Bellon has advocated for the federal government to uphold its promises in the 1854 Treaty of Medicine Creek.[17]

Bellon co-wrote an article on Earth Day 2021 for The Seattle Times where she called for "build[ing] intersectional climate and environmental solutions that center our most impacted neighbors while energizing our communities and economies."[18]

Personal life

Bellon is married to Bill S. Kallappa II, a member of the Washington State Board of Education and an enrolled member of the Makah Tribe. The two reside in Tumwater, Washington.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Maia D. Bellon". Cascadia Law Group Environmental Attorneys. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  2. ^ Weaver, Matthew (December 3, 2019). "Departing Ecology director to ag: 'Thank you for taking a chance on me'". Capital Press. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  3. ^ a b Walker, Richard Arlin (5 December 2019). "History? Yes. 'She is the best person for the job'". Ict News. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  4. ^ a b Weinberger, Hannah. "WA's Ecology director on Native knowledge and fighting for forgotten communities | Crosscut". crosscut.com. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  5. ^ Walker, Richard Arlin (13 September 2018). "3 Washington Native Leaders, Quinault Adviser Named to Key Positions". Ict News. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  6. ^ "Greener Leads State Ecology Department | The Evergreen State College". Evergreen State College. 2013. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  7. ^ a b "Ecology director resigning | The Spokesman-Review". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  8. ^ "Maia Bellon named to head Washington's Department of Ecology". Oregon Live. Associated Press. 2013-02-09. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  9. ^ Chasan, Daniel Jack. "Maia Bellon takes the reins at Ecology | Crosscut". crosscut.com. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  10. ^ Hu, Jane C. (2019-06-07). "Someday the U.S. Will Have to Actually Deal With Its Nuclear Waste Problem". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  11. ^ Wohlfeil, Samantha. "Environmental groups question how Ecology is critical of Trump water quality rollbacks while trying to create workarounds of its own". Inlander. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  12. ^ Bellon, Maia (September 18, 2019). "Testimony of Maia Bellon | Director, Washington State Department of Ecology" (PDF). United States House of Representatives.
  13. ^ "Rejection For Longview Project Spells Doom For Coal Exports Through The Northwest". opb. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  14. ^ Tissot, Gary (2016-11-14). "Council's latest letter reminds Ecology director of support for wider marsh buffer". My Edmonds News. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  15. ^ Ferolito, Phil (2022-11-04). "Kittitas County, state and tribal officials gather to celebrate water conservation efforts". Yakima Herald-Republic. Retrieved 2023-12-27. Bellon told how she and others who had labored to establish the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan — a multi-year effort that involves securing water for fish, farmers, municipalities and habitat — convinced Gov. Jay Inslee to make the plan law.
  16. ^ "Inslee names Laura Watson director of Washington State Department of Ecology | Governor Jay Inslee". www.governor.wa.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  17. ^ "Meet Maia Bellon: The Fearless Lawyer and TNC Trustee Who is a Bridge Between Worlds". The Nature Conservancy in Washington. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  18. ^ "Earth Day 2021: A year for bold action on climate and environmental justice". The Seattle Times. 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  19. ^ "Bill S. Kallappa II Appointed to the State Board of Education | SBE". www.sbe.wa.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
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