Governor Perdue Recommends Allen Barnes for EPD Director

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that he is recommending F. Allen Barnes to be the new Director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. If approved on Wednesday by the Board of Natural Resources, Barnes will replace Carol Couch, who served as EPD Director for more than six years and recently accepted a faculty position at the University of Georgia’s College of Environment and Design.

“Allen brings a wealth of environmental and management experience to this position,” said Governor Perdue. “His impressive government and academic background ensures he will successfully lead EPD as they continue to be responsible stewards of our most precious natural resources.”

Allen Barnes served as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region Four from 2002 to 2005, enabling him to work on the most significant issues in the eight state southeastern region. As Chief of Staff he worked with state environmental directors and with EPA’s senior staff on regulatory, enforcement, permitting, and policy issues. Prior to serving at EPA, Barnes taught natural resource policy and law as an Associate Professor at Mississippi State from 1996 to 2002. Barnes has also served as a prosecutor in the Florida State Attorney’s Office and as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney handling criminal, tort and environmental litigation. He is currently a partner in King & Spalding’s environmental practice. Barnes graduated from the University of West Florida and received his J.D. from the University of Mississippi.

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