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Maia Bellon | |
|---|---|
| Director of theWashington Department of Ecology | |
| In office February 2013 – 2020 | |
| Governor | Jay Inslee |
| Preceded by | Ted Sturdevant |
| Succeeded by | Laura Watson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Maia D. Bellon |
| Alma mater | Evergreen State College Arizona State University |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Maia D. Bellon[1] is an American attorney and former government official from theState of Washington. She served as Director of theWashington Department of Ecology from 2013 to 2020.[2] A member of theMescalero Apache, Bellon was the firstNative American to serve as a member of the Washington cabinet.[3]
Bellon's father, Richard Bellon, served as the executive director of theChehalis Tribe. Her mother, Rio Lara-Bellon, was writer and teacher. Bellon's family lived below thepoverty 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 fromEvergreen State College in 1991. Her first political involvement was as an intern for CongresswomanJolene Unsoeld ofWashington's 3rd district.[4] In 1994, Bellon graduated fromArizona State University Law School.[5]
Bellon served in the ecology office of theWashington 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 GovernorJay Inslee in February 2013,[7] succeeding former Director Ted Sturdevant.[8] Her appointment made Bellon the firstNative American to hold state cabinet office in Washington.[3]
Upon taking office, commentators highlighted leakingradioactive waste at theHanford Site as a key challenge facing the Department of Ecology.[9] In 2019, Bellon wrote to the federalDepartment of Energy to voice her concern about the department's protocol for storinghigh-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 theTrump Administration's proposed changes to theClean 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 inNorth 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]
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 1854Treaty of Medicine Creek.[17]
Bellon co-wrote an article onEarth Day 2021 forThe 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]
Bellon is married to Bill S. Kallappa II, a member of theWashington State Board of Education and an enrolled member of theMakah Tribe. The two reside inTumwater, Washington.[19]
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.