BALTIMORE, MD (June 29, 2011) – Kathy M. Kinsey, Senior Policy Advisor at the Maryland Department of the Environment and former Deputy Counsel to the Department, has been named Deputy Secretary of the agency.

Deputy Secretary Kinsey brings to her new position more than two decades of experience with MDE and the Office of the Attorney General on a broad range of permit, enforcement, and operational issues. In recent years she has been responsible for coordinating with Congressional staff on federal legislation, advising MDE Senior Staff on policy matters, assisting with the development of environmental regulatory initiatives, and working to advance Maryland’s environmental policies on air pollution, climate change, energy, and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Prior to her appointment as Senior Policy Advisor, she served as an Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Counsel to the Department, representing the agency in enforcement and permit cases and providing advice on policy initiatives, legislation, development of regulations, and administrative issues involving the day-to-day operations of the agency. Her work was instrumental on environmental initiatives such as Maryland’s Healthy Air Act, which established stringent new emission limitations for the State’s coal-fired power plants, and defense of challenges to regulations implementing Maryland’s landmark lead paint program.

MDE Secretary Robert M. Summers announced the appointment today.

"It’s a privilege to serve as Deputy Secretary under Secretary Summers during a time when we face many difficult environmental challenges, including restoration of the Bay, improvement of our air quality, and cleanup of contaminated industrial properties," Deputy Secretary Kinsey said. "I look forward to continuing to work with the many talented people at MDE dedicated to protecting public health and the environment."

Deputy Secretary Kinsey received a Bachelor’s degree in radio, television, and film in 1975 from the University of Maryland, College Park. She earned her law degree with honors in 1987 from the University of Maryland School of Law.

She worked at the Easton offices of a large law firm prior to joining the Office of the Attorney General in 1989. She served as Deputy Counsel to MDE from 1998 to 2008, supervising 18 Assistant Attorneys General providing representation to the Department on all aspects of MDE’s regulatory work. She was named Senior Policy Advisor in July 2008.

Deputy Secretary Kinsey lives in Frederick.

Secretary Summers was Deputy Secretary of MDE until December, when he was named Acting Secretary. He was named Secretary of the Environment in April.