Pennsylvania Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources
| Pennsylvania Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Non-partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| 2012-2013 FY Budget: | $52,723,000 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Authority: | Pennsylvania Constitution, Article IV, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | Richard Allan |
| Assumed office: | June 13, 2011 |
| Compensation: | $139,250 |
| Other Pennsylvania Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Richard Allan. He was nominated by Governor Tom Corbett on March 23, 2011, and unanimously confirmed by the state senate on June 13, 2011.[1]
Authority
Though the state constitution does not specifically create the office of Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources, it does allow for the addition of public officers in Article IV, Section 1:
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All officers, whose selection is not provided for in this Constitution, shall be elected or appointed as may be directed by law. |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for the Pennsylvania Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Appointments
The Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources is appointed. The Governor nominates a candidate to the state senate, and the senate confirms the nominee by a two-thirds majority before the candidate takes the oath of office.
Vacancies
Article IV, Section 8 of the Pennsylvania Constitution grants the governor the power to appoint officers to fill vacancies. In the event of a vacancy in the office, the governor nominates a successor. This nomination must be made to the commonwealth senate within 90 days of the vacancy. The senate must then take action (confirming or not confirming the nomination) within 25 legislative days.[2]
Duties
The secretary is responsible for the oversight of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The primary duties of the department are:
- maintaining and preserving Pennsylvania's 117 state parks
- managing 2.1 million acres of state forest land
- providing information on Pennsylvania's ecological and geological resources
- establishing community conservation partnerships to benefit rivers, trailways, greenways, local parks, regional parks, and open spaces[3]
Divisions
DCNR houses eight bureaus and a separate office that manages the Wild Resource Conservation Program.
State parks
Pennsylvania boasts 117 state parks that cover approximately 295,000 acres. The State Parks Bureau manages the operation of the parks, providing recreational and educational opportunities for the more than 36 million annual park visitors.
Forestry
The Forestry Bureau manages the 2.1 million acres of "Penn's Woods," the namesake of the commonwealth. The bureau works to provide recreational and education programming, forest fire and pest prevention, and protect the thousands of plant and animal species that make a home in the state forests.
Topographic & Geologic Survey
The Topographic & Geologic Survey Bureau maps and provides information about geographic and topographic features throughout the commonwealth. The staff also disseminate information and date pertaining to water, gas and oil wells, and other underground resources.
Recreation & Conservation
Through the Recreation & Conservation Bureau, the department awards monetary grants to local communities for programs that work to conserve the commonwealth's natural and cultural resources. The bureau also manages 12 heritage sites.
Facility Design & Construction
The Facility Design & Construction Bureau works to maintain the infrastructure of state parks and forests. Staff engineers design and manage projects to build and improve bridges, water and sewage systems, swimming pools, beach areas, and dams.
Conservation Science
The Office of Conservation Science manages several collaborative programs to support the mission of the department, identify emerging environmental issues, and educate Pennsylvania residents about sustainable practices.
Human Resources
The Human Resources Bureau provides personnel management for the department.
Administrative Services
The Administrative Services Bureau provides administrative support to the department.
State budget
The budget for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Fiscal Year 2012-2013 was $52,723,000.[4]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2012
In 2012, the secretary was paid an estimated $139,250. This figure comes from the Council of State Governments.
2010
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources was paid an estimated $132,934 according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
Contact information
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Rachel Carson State Office Building
PO Box 8767
400 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17105-8767
Email links for specific questions
Contact information for the Bureaus of the Department
See also
External links
References
- ↑ ConserveLand, "Senate Confirms Richard Allan As DCNR Secretary," June 2011
- ↑ Pennsylvania State Legislature, "Executive branch," June 1, 2011
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources "DCNR at a glance," Retrieved June 14, 2011
- ↑ Pennsylvania Budget Office, "2012-13 Enacted Budget - Act 9A," accessed April 10, 2013
- ↑ The Council of State Governments Book of the States, Chapter 4, Table 4.11, Retrieved June 14, 2011
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