Elizabeth Hagood brings strong conservation credentials to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. The former director of Charleston's Lowcountry Open Land Trust is a welcome addition to Gov. Mark Sanford's administration, as chairwoman of DHEC's policy-making board.

Hagood was named by Sanford after serving as co-chairwoman of his Quality of Life Task Force, which recommended an environmental agenda notable for the accord that it achieved between business and conservation leaders.

As chairwoman of DHEC, Hagood will be able to influence policy on a broad range of issues, including coastal preservation and development, public health and regulatory reform. The agency's agenda could include protections for isolated freshwater wetlands, tighter septic tank regulations for the coast, limits to dock proliferation and reducing the effects of stormwater runoff on water quality.

In making the announcement, Sanford said Hagood recognizes that the value of South Carolina's quality of life is a competitive advantage that must be preserved. Hagood's background in conservation and business will enable her to balance competing interests in making state policy. The common ground reached by the governor's Quality of Life Task Force, under Hagood's co-direction, suggests that she will be a practical and effective advocate for the environment as chairwoman of DHEC's board.