Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon's first-ever "Special Counsel" dedicated to fighting environmental crimes resigned Tuesday. And the state Attorney General's office is giving few clues as to the sudden turn of events.  Chris Lehman reports.

Brent Foster was a high-profile activist in the Oregon environmental community.

He was executive director of Columbia Riverkeeper where he became known as an outspoken critic of Liquefied Natural Gas.

When Democrat John Kroger became Oregon Attorney General last year he hired Foster to head what Kroger called the state's first-ever environmental crimes unit.

Now, Foster has stepped down after informing the AG's office that he misrepresented his involvement in a criminal case against a Hood River juice processor.

The CEO of that company is charged with illegally discharging wastewater.

A spokesman for Kroger wouldn't comment further but said the matter has been referred to the Marion County District Attorney's office for a possible investigation.