Joe Martens
Joe Martens was the New York Commissioner of Environmental Conservation. Martens was appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2011.[1]
An April 2013 list of the 100 most powerful players in Albany by the newspaper City and State ranked Martens as number 66.[2]
Biography
Martens served as president of the Open Space Institute from 1998 to 2010. In this role he was responsible for directing and overseeing land acquisition, sustainable development, historic preservation and farmland protection. Prior to that he served as Deputy Secretary for Energy and the Environment under Gov. Mario Cuomo from 1992 to 1994, and as Assistant Secretary from 1990 to 1992.[1] Upon his resignation as Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, he announced plans to return to the Open Space Institute as a consultant on climate change.[3]
Education
- MS, Resource Management, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University[1]
Political career
New York Commissioner of Environmental Conservation (2011-2015)
Martens served as New York Commissioner of Environmental Conservation from March 2011 until his resignation on July 21, 2015. He stepped down shortly after the Department of Environmental Conservation issued a statewide ban on hydraulic fracking. In a statement explaining his resignation, Martens said that he had always intended to serve for only one four-year term, but stayed on for a few months into Gov. Cuomo's second term in order to finish the lengthy process of banning fracking in the state.[3] He was succeeded by his executive deputy Marc Gerstman.[4]
In addition to the fracking ban, Martens also worked to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions cap and streamline the process for obtaining hunting and fishing licenses in New York.[3]
Appointments
2011
Martens was nominated as New York Commissioner of Environmental Conservation by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on January 4, 2011. Cuomo stated, "Joe's lifelong experience of fighting to protect and preserve our environment will bring the highest level of stewardship to our state's beautiful natural resources. Joe knows how to strike the critical balance between defending our natural resources from pollution and destruction while at the same time fostering a climate of economic renewal and growth. His experience and record as a competent and productive manager will breathe life into this vital agency."[5]
Recent news
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See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 New York Department of Environmental Conservation, "Commissioner Joe Martens," accessed July 5, 2012
- ↑ City and State, "Albany Power 100 List," April 23, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Press & Sun-Bulletin, Joe Campbell, "DEC's Martens: Resignation timing not coincidental," accessed Sept. 20, 2015
- ↑ Syracuse.com, "NY environmental commissioner Martens resigns after enacting fracking ban," accessed Sept. 20, 2015
- ↑ Governor of New York, "Governor Cuomo Announces Appointments and Nominations," January 4, 2011
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Pete Grannis |
New York Commissioner of Environmental Conservation 2011–2015 |
Succeeded by Marc Gerstman |
