Greitens announces new DNR director

Gov. Eric Greitens announced Wednesday that Carol Comer will head Missouri's Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Comer served as the commissioner of Indiana's Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) under Vice President-elect Mike Pence.

Greitens noted that under her leadership, IDEM significantly reduced the time between an application for a permit and its approval. A process that used to take 225 percent of the required time, went all the way down to 51 percent of the required time, which Greitens said was a significant step for economic development in Indiana. 

Greitens also noted that under Comer's watch, Indiana was able to make sure over 93 percent of the state's residents live in areas that meet all air quality standards. Using federal grants and settlements with responsible parties, IDEM and its partners invested $200 million in restoring the Grand Calumet River and its ecosystem. The work done over the last two decades has led to fish and nesting birds returning to the area.