Five of the 18 positions on DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council are now vacant and a sixth position is held by an individual whose term expired in January.  Appointments to the CAC are made by the Senate, House and the Governor.  The DEP Secretary is a 19th member of Council by virtue of his position.

The Senate has three vacancies to fill, one of which has been vacant since 2009, the House has one vacancy and the Governor has one vacancy to fill and must determine whether to reappoint an individual whose term has expired.

Persons interested in filling any of the vacancies should contact the appointing authority.  In the Senate it is President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), in the House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and in the Governor’s Office Gov. Tom Wolf.

The Council was established by statute, originally in Act 275 of 1971, to:

-- Perform non-partisan, independent oversight of the operations, management and policy of the Department of Environmental Protection;

-- Evaluate environmental issues and laws;

-- Participate in the development of environmental regulations; and

-- Provide advice concerning environmental matters to the Department, the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Commonwealth's federal representatives.

The Council strives to represent all people of the Commonwealth and endeavors to bring a collective view of the public interest in environmental protection and natural resources, forged from the Council's own diversity of personal experiences and perspectives.

If you have questions about the DEP Council, contact Michele Tate, Executive Director of the Council, by calling 717-787-8171 or send email to: mtate@pa.gov.

DCNR Advisory Council

An identical 18-member Conservation and Natural Resources Council was established in Act 18 of 1995 to advise the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources with the same appointing authorities-- Senate, House and Governor.  The DCNR Secretary is a 19th member of Council by virtue of her position.

The adopted mission of the Council is: Drawing upon the diversity of experiences and perspectives of its appointed citizen members, the Council will provide to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, to the Governor, to the General Assembly, and to the public, advice regarding the conservation and stewardship of the Commonwealth’s natural resources.

There is one vacancy on the DCNR Council to be appointed by the Governor.

For more information on the DCNR Council, contact Gretchen Leslie by calling 717-783-5878 or send email to: gleslie@pa.gov.

8/17/2015