AUGUSTA — Heather Parent, a land use attorney at Eaton Peabody, has been named policy director of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, commissioner Pattie Aho announced today.

Parent will also oversee the agency’s enforcement efforts.

According to a statement released by the agency, she will work to ensure that the agency enforces the law in a manner that is “timely, fair and firm” and will not allow businesses that violate the law have a competitive advantage over those that undertake environmental stewardship.

At Eaton Peabody, Parent’s practice focused on helping businesses and municipalities with wetlands permitting, brownfields redevelopment, groundwater contamination issues and state and federal hazardous substance laws.

Parent, who lives in Brewer, grew up in Peru and has a law degree in environmental law from Vermont Law School.

She will replace Jim Dusch, who has been transferred to head the agency’s Southern Maine Regional Office.

In addition, Melanie Loyzim, acting director of the Bureau of Air Quality since June, and Mike Mullen, acting director of the Bureau of Land & Water Quality since July, were sworn-in last week as permanent directors of their respective bureaus.