Herschel Vinyard
Herschel Vinyard is the former Secretary of Environmental Protection in Florida. He assumed office in January 3, 2011, following his appointment by Republican Gov. Rick Scott. He stepped down in December 2014 in order to take a job in the private sector.[1][2]
Biography
Prior to being named Secretary of Environmental Protection, Vinyard was director of business operations at BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards. In this role he was responsible for strategic planning, business development and regulatory and government affairs. Vinyard has also been a private practice attorney, specializing in state and federal environmental compliance and permitting.[3]
Education
- Bachelor's degree, Louisiana State University
- Juris Doctorate, Louisiana State University
Political career
Secretary of Environmental Protection (2011-2014)
Vinyard served as Florida Secretary of Environmental Protection from 2011 to 2014.
Resume questioned
In 2011, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and the Florida Clean Water Network filed a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency alleging Vinyard was in violation of a clause within the Clean Water Act that bars, "the appointment of any state decision-maker on pollution discharge permits in federal quality water programs who has during the previous two years received a significant portion of his income directly or indirectly from permits holders or applicants of a permit."[4]
According to the resume Vinyard submitted when applying for the position, he was director of business operations for a unit of BAE Systems in which he "counseled the company on major environmental permitting decisions." Vinyard was also chairman of the Shipbuilders Council of America, a group representing over 100 companies in the industry.[5] When the EPA initially investigated the matter, DEP general counsel said Vinyard only worked for BAE for two weeks and received little income from the company. However, on a questionnaire Vinyard submitted to the governor's office, BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards was his primary employer from 1999-2011. According to PEER, the BAE unit held permits for national pollutant discharge elimination systems during the two years prior to Vinyard's appointment.
In September 2012, a letter from the DEP said Vinyard actually worked for the Classic Act company, which never held or applied for such permits. Jerry Phillips, director of the Florida chapter of PEER, pointed out the issue with this, saying, "His résumé doesn't show any mention of Classic Act. They're denying that [Vinyard] worked for BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards, a company that he swore under oath that he worked for. Neither the application or résumé show any mention of Classic Act. The letter he sent to the EPA does not include any proof of where he in fact worked."[4]
Appointments
2011
Vinyard was appointed Florida Secretary of Environmental Protection on January 3, 2011, by Gov. Rick Scott (R). Scott stated, "Herschel is a man of deep environmental knowledge and practical business experience. He has a love for our great state’s natural resources and a passion for job creation. He will effectively balance those interests for the benefit of all Floridians."[2]
Vinyard was confirmed by the Cabinet on January 19, 2011.[6]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Herschel + Vinyard + Florida + Environment"
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ocala Star-Banner, "Cabinet confirms new heads of FDLE and DEP," January 13, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Florida Department of Environmental Protection, "Governor Rick Scott Names Herschel Vinyard as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection," January 3, 2011
- ↑ Florida Department of Environmental Protection, "ARC Council Members," accessed September 19, 2012
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Broward/Palm Beach New Times, "DEP Secretary Herschel Vinyard Says He Didn't Lie on Résumé; PEER Not Buying It," September 11, 2012
- ↑ Broward/Palm Beach New Times, "EPA Wants to Know if Herschel Vinyard, Secretary of Florida's Department of Environmental Protection, Lied on His Resume," May 18, 2012
- ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Scott names ninth agency head; 16 more to go," January 22, 2011
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by ' |
Florida Secretary of Environmental Protection 2011-2014 |
Succeeded by Jonathan Steverson |
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