Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment is a member of the Oklahoma Governor's Cabinet. The Secretary is appointed by the Governor, with the consent of the Oklahoma Senate
, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on environmental policy development and implementation.
The sixth and current Secretary is Gary Sherrer
, who was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin
on January 14, 2011.
, by the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Act of 1993. The Act directed the Secretary of the Environment ensure that state environmental agencies management activities are well coordinated and of high quality.
and wildlife
of the State. The primary duties assigned to the Secretary by law are as follows:
As the State's official Trustee for Natural Resources, the Secretary ensures that natural resources and the services they provide that are injured or lost because of contamination are restored for the benefit of the State.
As of fiscal year 2011
, the Secretary of the Environment oversees 729 full time employees and is responsible for an annual budget of $440 million.
The vast majority of the funds to support the Office comes from the Environmental Protection Agency, particularly under the authority of the Clean Water Act
. Only 1% of the budget comes from yearly appropriations from the Oklahoma Legislature
, with 99% as grants coming from the United States federal government.
The Secretary represents the Governor of Oklahoma
before the following entities:
The Secretary also oversees the Clean Energy Independence Commission, the Encouraging Conservation in Oklahoma (ECO) Task Force and various other conservation and sustainability efforts of the State government.
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....
, to serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The Secretary serves as the chief advisor to the Governor on environmental policy development and implementation.
The sixth and current Secretary is Gary Sherrer
Gary Sherrer
Gary Sherrer is an American Democratic politician from Oklahoma. Sherrer serves as Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment under Republican Governor Mary Fallin...
, who was appointed by Governor Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....
on January 14, 2011.
History
The Office of the Secretary of the Environment was established in 1993 to provide greater oversight to the environmental activities of the State government. The Office was established, along with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental QualityOklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. It is responsible for protecting human health and for safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land. DEQ is chiefly responsible for the environmental policy...
, by the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Act of 1993. The Act directed the Secretary of the Environment ensure that state environmental agencies management activities are well coordinated and of high quality.
Responsibilities
The Secretary of the Environment is responsible for overseeing the development, management and protection of the natural resourcesNatural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
and wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
of the State. The primary duties assigned to the Secretary by law are as follows:
- Any duties and powers assigned by the Governor
- Recipient and administrator of Federal Clean Water Act funds
- Coordinate pollution control activities to avoid duplication of effort
- Act on behalf of the public as trustee for natural resources
- Serve as the State's Trustee for Natural Resources
As the State's official Trustee for Natural Resources, the Secretary ensures that natural resources and the services they provide that are injured or lost because of contamination are restored for the benefit of the State.
As of fiscal year 2011
2011 Oklahoma state budget
The Oklahoma State Budget for Fiscal Year 2011, is a spending request by Governor Brad Henry to fund government operations for July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011. Governor Henry and legislative leader approved the budget in May 2010...
, the Secretary of the Environment oversees 729 full time employees and is responsible for an annual budget of $440 million.
Office of the Secretary
The Secretary heads the Office of the Secretary of the Environment, which is a state agency. The Mission Statement of the Office is:- The Environmental Mission of the State of Oklahoma, as adopted by the state's environmental agencies, is to protect and enhance Oklahoma's environment and natural resources through preservation, conservation, restoration, education and enforcement in order to maintain and improve the environmental quality and natural beauty of our state and better the standard of living for all Oklahomans.
Staff
The staff of the Office serves as the immediate staff to the Secretary. Although well funded, the Office has a very limited staff: only four full-time employees including the Secretary. As of 2010, the following are the authorized positions within the Office:- Secretary of the Environment
- Executive Assistant to the Secretary
- Director of the Office of the Secretary of the Environment
- Environmental Grants Manager
Budget
The Office of the Secretary has a very large budget for the size of its staff. For Fiscal Year 2011, with only 4 employees, the Office has an annual budget of $12 million. Only $600 thousand of that budget is actually dedicated to employee compensation and operating expenses. The remaining $11.4 million (or 95%) of the budget is used as grants for State and local agencies with environmental responsibilities.The vast majority of the funds to support the Office comes from the Environmental Protection Agency, particularly under the authority of the Clean Water Act
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
. Only 1% of the budget comes from yearly appropriations from the Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma Legislature
The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101...
, with 99% as grants coming from the United States federal government.
Salary
The annual salary of the Secretary of the Environment is one of the few Cabinet Secretary positions which is not set by law. As such, it is left to the Governor to determine the Secretary's salary. Despite this, if the Secretary serves as the head of State agency, the Secretary receives the higher of the two salaries.Agencies Overseen
The Secretary of the Environment oversees the following State entities:| Seal | Agency | Function |
|---|---|---|
| |Department of Environmental Quality Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. It is responsible for protecting human health and for safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land. DEQ is chiefly responsible for the environmental policy... |
Enforces State clean air, clean water, and land protection laws | |
| Department of Wildlife Conservation Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is an agency of the state of Oklahoma responsible for managing and protecting Oklahoma's wildlife population and their habitats. The Department is under the control of the Wildlife Conservation Commission, an 8-member board appointed by the Governor... |
Protects endangered animals and regulates hunting activities | |
| Water Resources Board Oklahoma Water Resources Board The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is an agency in the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. OWRB is responsible for managing and protection the water resources of Oklahoma as well as for planning for the state's long-range water needs. The Board is composed of nine members... |
Aids in the development of State water resources infastructure |
The Secretary represents the Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
before the following entities:
- Air Quality Council
- Arkansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River Compact Commission
- Arkansas River Basin Interstate Committee
- Arkansas-White-Red River Basins Interagency Commission
- Bioenergy Initiative
- Canadian River Commission
- Central Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission
- Compliance Advisory Panel
- Environmental Finance Authority
- Hazardous Waste Management Advisory Council
- High Plains Study Council and Task Force
- Illinois River Task Force
- Kansas-Oklahoma Arkansas River Compact Commission
- Laboratory Services Advisory Council
- Lone Chimney Water Association
- Ottawa Reclamation Authority
- Radiation Management Advisory Council
- Red River Compact Commission
- Solid Waster Management Advisory Council
- Water Law Advisory Committee
- Water Quality Management Advisory Council
- Water Research Institute
- Water Resources Research Coordinating Committee
The Secretary also oversees the Clean Energy Independence Commission, the Encouraging Conservation in Oklahoma (ECO) Task Force and various other conservation and sustainability efforts of the State government.
List of Secretaries
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Governor Governor of Oklahoma The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma... served under |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patty Eaton | July, 1993 | January, 1995 | David Walters David Walters David Lee Walters was the 24th Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.-Biography:Walters was born near Canute, Oklahoma. He graduated as valedictorian from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering... |
| 2 | Gary Sherrer Gary Sherrer Gary Sherrer is an American Democratic politician from Oklahoma. Sherrer serves as Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment under Republican Governor Mary Fallin... |
January, 1995 | January, 1997 | Frank Keating Frank Keating Francis Anthony "Frank" Keating is an American politician from Oklahoma. Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma. His first term began in 1995 and ended in 1999... |
| 3 | Brian C. Griffin Brian C. Griffin Brian C. Griffin is an American businessman from the Oklahoma who currently serves as the chairman of the board of directors for Clean Energy Systems, a private Rancho Cordova, California based energy technology innovations firm.... |
January, 1997 | January, 2003 | |
| 4 | Miles Tolbert Miles Tolbert Miles Tolbert is an American lawyer from the state of Oklahoma who served as the Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment under Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry. Tolbert was appointed by Henry in 2003 and served until his resignation in 2008. Tolbert was succeeded by J.D... |
January, 2003 | August, 2008 | Brad Henry Brad Henry Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002... |
| 5 | J.D. Strong J.D. Strong J.D. Strong is a civil servant from the US state of Oklahoma and the current Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.-Education and early career:... |
August, 2008 | January 14, 2011 | |
| 6 | Gary Sherrer Gary Sherrer Gary Sherrer is an American Democratic politician from Oklahoma. Sherrer serves as Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment under Republican Governor Mary Fallin... |
January 14, 2011 | Present | Mary Fallin Mary Fallin Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011.... |
See also
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
- Clean Water ActClean Water ActThe Clean Water Act is the primary federal law in the United States governing water pollution. Commonly abbreviated as the CWA, the act established the goals of eliminating releases of high amounts of toxic substances into water, eliminating additional water pollution by 1985, and ensuring that...
- Oil Pollution Act of 1990Oil Pollution Act of 1990The Oil Pollution Act was passed by the 101st United States Congress, and signed by President George H. W. Bush, to mitigate and prevent civil liability for future oil spills off the coast of the United States....