The DEP Citizens Advisory County Tuesday elected Donald Welsh Chair of the Council. He succeeds William Fink who first became Chair in 2015.  James Sandoe was elected Vice Chair.

Don Welsh

Don Welsh has 30 years of experience in federal, state and local government and lives in Chester County. He was elected vice-chair of the CAC in June 2015.

He is known for building and maintaining successful partnerships among elected officials, government agencies, businesses and interest groups to achieve environmental results.  

In 2009-2010 he served as President & Chief Executive Officer of the PA Environmental Council where he led and directed Pennsylvania’s most respected statewide non-profit environmental organization.

Prior to PEC, Don was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region III Regional Administrator for eight years where he was responsible for planning, managing and directing the activities of the U.S. EPA in the six-state Mid-Atlantic Region.

His career with EPA also included time as the Region III Chief of Government Affairs (1984-1995), Executive Assistant to the Regional Administrator (1985-1991) and Pennsylvania State Liaison Officer (1984-1985).

He has held several positions in the Department of Environmental Protection, including Deputy Secretary for State/Federal Relations (1997-2001) and Special Assistant to the Secretary for Federal Liaison (1995-1997).

James Sandoe

James Sandoe is a retire business executive from Lancaster County with over 30 years in the automotive and logistics fields at the level of General Manager.

Before retiring, he served as Northeast Regional Manager for Bridgestone Logistics in York.  The company served as the east coast hub for California Wine Country Gift Baskets and Sandoe was in charge of inventory and shipment of thousands of packages daily to all fifty states.

Since he retired, he has been involved in the science of climate. I have taken seven college courses, including the basic science, earth science and the economics of sustainability. The last one with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs at Columbia University had a big impact on me personally, and it is the reason that I am applying for this position.

The July 18 meeting of Council is canceled. The next meeting will be held on August 14 and will be a field visit (location to be decided).

For more information, visit DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council webpage or contact Lee Ann Murray, Executive Director, P. O. Box 8459, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8459, 717-705-2693, LeeMurray@pa.gov.

6/26/2017