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North Carolina Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources
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Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Dee Freeman. He was appointed by Governor Beverly Perdue on January 6, 2009.
Authority
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources was not established, in spirit, until the passage of the Executive Organization Act of 1971. The act created a Department of Natural and Economic Resources, consolidating the environmental functions that had, until that time, been under the authority of: the Division of Geodetic Survey, the Wildlife Resources Commission, the Department and Board of Water Resources, the Division of Forest Resources, the Department of Water and Air Resources, and the State Stream Sanitation Committee, among others.
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for this office.
Appointments
The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the Governor of North Carolina.
Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy in the office, the governor appoints an acting staff officer to perform the duties of the office until a new appointee is confirmed.
Duties
The department is responsible for the preservation and protection of North Carolina's natural resources.
- administers regulatory programs to protect air quality, water quality, and public health
- offers technical assistance to businesses, farmers, local governments, and the public
- provides educational programming to foster stewardship
- protects fish, wildlife, and wildlife areas
Divisions
The department has 8 divisions that handle the administration, budgeting, human resources, information technology, and purchasing aspects of the department, but the bulk of the main mission is accomplished through the work of 13 non-administrative divisions:
- The Division of Air Quality works to protect and improve outdoor air quality in North Carolina. The staff monitor air quality, conduct inspections, issue permits, develop air quality improvement plans, and promote public education and awareness.
- The Division of Coastal Management protects and manages the state's coastal resources and is responsible for permitting, land-use planning, public beach access, and state coastal reserves.
- The Division of Environmental Assistance and Outreach combines the Customer Service Center and the Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, providing information about the state's natural resources and ways in which North Carolina residents can reduce the amount of waste they produce.
- The Division of Environmental Education and Public Affairs works to encourage environmental literacy and stewardship by providing environmental education programs, facilities, and resources across the state.
- The Division of Land Resources protects the state's land and geologic resources through mining, dam safety, and sedimentation control programs, mapping and boundary determination, and public education. There are three sections within this division: land quality, geological survey, and geodetic survey.
- The Division of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs serves as a liaison between the state government and legislative units, working with members of the general assembly on environmental issues. This division also prepares the department's periodic reports to the legislature.
- The Division of Marine Fisheries manages the state's marine and estuarine fisheries and habitats.
- The Division of Conservation, Planning, and Community Affairs implements a statewide plan for the conservation of natural resources. In addition to direct conservation work, the members of this division coordinate the efforts of conservation agencies and organizations, guide land planning, develop climate change strategies, protect and restore coastal habitats, and foster stewardship of working farms and forests.
- The Division of Parks and Recreation manages the state parks system, conserves and protects the natural resources within the parks, provides recreational resources, and provides educational programming to promote stewardship.
- The Division of Waste Management oversees the management of solid waste, hazardous waste, and underground storage tanks.
- The Division of Water Quality regulates statewide programs in surface water and groundwater protection by monitoring water quality, issuing permits, and encouraging responsible management practices.
- The Division of Water Resources manages river basin management, water supply assistance, water conservation, and water resources development programs.
The department also operates the North Carolina Zoo, the Museum of Natural Sciences, and three Aquariums.
Compensation
In 2010, the North Carolina Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources was paid an estimated $120,363 according to the Council of State Governments.[1]
Contact information
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1601
Phone: 877-623-6748
Fax: 919-715-3060
Department email and phone number directory
See also
External links
References
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