Senate committee advances three Water Quality Control Commission nominees to consent calendar

The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday advanced three nominees to the Water Quality Control Commission, placing their confirmations on the consent calendar.

Amy Konawal, administrator for the Water Quality Control Commission at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, introduced the nominees and described the commission’s rule‑making role under state statutes and federal laws including the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. She said the nine‑member volunteer commission balances environmental protection with regulatory and economic impacts on the regulated community.

Nicole Poncelet Johnson, introduced as executive director for the One Water program for the city of Fort Collins, told the committee she brings 25 years of experience in water, wastewater and stormwater management and said she aims to protect public health and the environment if reappointed to the commission.

Christine Johnston, introduced by department staff as a Littleton resident and senior environmental analyst in Xcel Energy’s corporate environmental services group, described her permitting and compliance work for energy generation facilities and wetlands permitting and said that background would help inform commission decisions.

Charles Garcia, a lawyer and CPA who was introduced as serving time in both Grand County and Denver and with prior service on Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said his experience on conservation and outdoor boards would help him represent agricultural and rural interests on the commission.

A committee member asked whether permit timelines and perceived delays at the department or commission level were improving. Poncelet Johnson said control of permit timelines is the Division’s responsibility but that she had seen intentional improvements and structures aimed at reducing the backlog.

Senator Hendrickson moved to approve the appointments with a favorable recommendation to the full Senate. The committee recorded a unanimous favorable recommendation among members present and placed the appointments on the consent calendar.

The committee then moved on to other agenda items.