State environmental quality director appointed to lead highway department

The office of Gov. Greg Gianforte announced Thursday that Chris Dorrington, a longtime state official who has led the Montana Department of Environmental Quality since 2021, will be taking the helm at the Montana Department of Transportation.

DEQ, which among other duties regulates water quality, mining and some aspects of subdivision development, will be led by current Air, Energy and Mining Division Administrator Sonja Nowakowski.

Both appointments take effect July 1, the governor's office said. Gianforte's prior MDT director, Mack Long, announced his retirement in March.

Dorrington previous...