North Carolina Secretary of Environmental Quality
From Ballotpedia
| North Carolina Secretary of Environmental Quality | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $159,131 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $109,554,904 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | Serves at the pleasure of the governor |
| Leadership: | NC General Statutes - NC Gen Stat § 143B-279.1,4 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by governor |
| Current Officeholder | |
North Carolina Secretary of Environmental Quality
Mary Penny Kelley | |
| Other North Carolina Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission |
The North Carolina Secretary of Environmental Quality is an appointed state executive position in the North Carolina state government. The secretary is the head of the Department of Environmental Quality. The department administers regulatory programs relating to the state's environmental resources, offers technical assistance to businesses, local governments, and farmers, and provides public education resources regarding environmental stewardship.[1]
Current officeholder
The current acting officeholder is Mary Penny Kelley. Gov. Roy Cooper (D) appointed Kelley on September 17, 2024, to replace Elizabeth Biser[2]
The secretary of environmental quality's authority is derived from Chapter 143B, Article 7 of the North Carolina General Statutes.
Chapter 143B, Article 7:
| There is hereby created and constituted a department to be known as the Department of Environmental Quality, with the organization, powers, and duties defined in this Article and other applicable provisions of law. ... The Secretary of Environmental Quality shall be the head of the Department.[3][4] |
Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications for this office.[5]
Appointments
The secretary of environmental quality is appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state Senate.[5]
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the North Carolina Secretary of Environmental Quality has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Duties
- See also: Energy policy in North Carolina
The secretary of environmental quality is the head of the Department of Environmental Quality. The department administers regulatory programs relating to the state's environmental resources, offers technical assistance to businesses, local governments, and farmers, and provides public education resources regarding environmental stewardship.[1] Additional departmental duties include, but are not limited to:[6]
- Providing for the protection of the environment;
- Regulating solid and hazardous waste management and administering environmental health programs;
- Preparing and presenting the departmental budget request; and,
- Developing and reporting to the governor a legislative, budgetary, and administrative report regarding long-term policy plans.
Divisions
The Department of Environmental Quality consists of the following divisions:
Air Quality
- The Air Quality Division operates a statewide air quality monitoring network to measure pollutants, implements plans to meet air quality initiatives, and assures compliance through air quality rules.
| Contact Air Quality | |
|---|---|
| Michael Abraczinskas, Director Email: Michael.Abraczinskas@ncdenr.gov |
Coastal Management
- The Coastal Management Division protects, conserves, and manages the state's coastal resources and carries out the state's Coastal Area Management Act, the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, and the Dredge and Fill Law.
| Contact Coastal Management | |
|---|---|
| Braxton Davis, Director
Physical Address: 400 Commerce Avenue, Morehead City, NC 28557 |
Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
- The Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources Division promotes the protection of the state's land and geologic resources and provides technical assistance relating to dams, mining, erosion control, and stormwater management.
| Contact Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources | |
|---|---|
| Brian Wrenn, Director
Phone: 919-707-9222 |
Environmental Assistance and Customer Service
- The Environmental Assistance and Customer Service Division promotes recycling and reduced waste disposal, provides customer assistance, and spreads information regarding environmental permitting and compliance.
| Contact Environmental Assistance and Customer Service | |
|---|---|
| Jamie Ragan, Director
Physical Address: 217 W. Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 |
Environmental Education and Public Affairs
- The Environmental Education and Public Affairs Division coordinates the department's communications efforts and promotes environmental education programs, facilities, and resources.
| Contact Environmental Education and Public Affairs | |
|---|---|
| Directory: Public information officers by division |
Marine Fisheries
- The Marine Fisheries Division has jurisdiction over all coastal waters up to the three miles offshore and implements agency policies developed by the secretary and the nine-member Marine Fisheries Commission.
| Contact Marine Fisheries | |
|---|---|
| Physical Address: 3441 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 Phone: 252-726-7021 |
Mitigation Services
- The Mitigation Services Division restores and protects the state's wetlands and waterways and offsets unavoidable damage.
| Contact Mitigation Services | |
|---|---|
| Tim Baumgartner, Director
Physical Address: 217 W. Jones Street, Suite 3000A, Raleigh, NC 27603 |
Waste Management
- The Waste Management Division oversees the management of solid waste, hazardous waste, and underground storage tanks.
| Contact Waste Management | |
|---|---|
| Michael Scott, Director
Phone: 919-707-8200 |
Water Infrastructure
- The Water Infrastructure Division supports statewide initiatives to improve water quality.
| Contact Water Infrastructure | |
|---|---|
| Kim Colson, Director
Phone: 919-707-9177 |
Water Resources
- The Water Resources Division manages river basin management, water supply assistance, water conservation, and water resources development programs.
| Contact Water Resources | |
|---|---|
| Danny Smith, Director
Phone: 919-707-9014 |
State budget
- See also: North Carolina state budget and finances
The budget for the Department of Environmental Quality in Fiscal Year 2025 was $109,554,904.[7]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, the officer's salary was $159,131, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $159,131, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2021
In 2021, the secretary received a salary of $155,526, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2020
In 2020, the secretary received a salary of $151,733, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2019
In 2019, the secretary received a salary of $152,944, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2018
In 2018, the secretary received a salary of $130,935, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2017
In 2017, the secretary received a salary of $130,935, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2016
In 2016, the secretary received a salary of $129,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2015
In 2015, the secretary received a salary of $129,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2014
In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $128,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2013
In 2013, the secretary received a salary of $128,000.[18]
2010
In 2010, the secretary received a salary of $120,363 according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the North Carolina Secretary of Environmental Quality has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Contact information
Physical Address:
217 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27603
Mailing Address:
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1641
Phone: 877-623-6748
See also
| North Carolina | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
| North Carolina State Executive Offices North Carolina State Legislature North Carolina Courts | 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 North Carolina elections: 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 | Party control of state government State government trifectas State of the state addresses Partisan composition of governors |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 North Carolina Environmental Quality, "Home," accessed Feb. 2, 2021
- ↑ ABC11, "North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper's environmental secretary steps down," September 14, 2024
- ↑ Justia, "NC Gen Stat § 143B-279.1 (2019)," accessed Feb. 2, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "C Gen Stat § 143B-279.4 (2019)," accessed Feb. 2, 2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 North Carolina State Legislature, "North Carolina State Constitution," accessed Feb. 1, 2021
- ↑ Justia, "NC Gen Stat § 143B-279.2 (2019)," accessed Feb. 2, 2021
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly, "House Bill 259," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States," Sept. 30, 2020
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed Jan. 27, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ The Times News, "Some of McCrory's cabinet members get salary bump," January 11, 2013
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed April 23, 2011
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