AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Gov. Paul LePage has appointed the spokesman for a St. Croix River pulp and tissue mill to an international commission that protects the river’s corridor.

The Republican governor this month appointed Woodland Pulp environmental and security manager Scott Beal to the St. Croix International Waterway Commission.

Beal said he would step aside for any issue concerning the Woodland Pulp mill. He said he’s the fourth mill employee to have served on the three-decade old commission.

Maine’s governor and New Brunswick’s premier can each appoint four commissioners for a two-year term.

LePage has supported Woodland Pulp’s efforts to fight a 2015 federal license that the company says is too costly.

The state is investigating the leak of over half a million gallons of wastewater last week at the Woodland Pulp mill.