Senate Confirms Richard Allan As DCNR Secretary

The Senate has unanimously confirmed Richard J. Allan, of Camp Hill, Cumberland County, as secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

"Richard Allan is a proven leader and commands a wealth of knowledge and experience in environmental and energy issues," Gov. Corbett said. "I am confident that his abilities and background will be a tremendous benefit to DCNR, especially during this critical time in the agency's history."

Since 1991, Allan has served as executive director for the Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware members of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, the national trade association that represents the recycling industry. Since 2005, he has also been a consultant to energy producers in the electric, wind, solar and coal sectors.

Allan, 57, has served on the boards of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Pennsylvania Resources Council since 2000. Allan was also a member of the energy and environmental committees for Governor Corbett's transition team.

Allan has long been involved in environmental interests. He was a founding member of Back Mountain Recreation, Inc., a recreation and environmental facility in Luzerne County. He was also a founding member of the North Branch Land Trust, which provides management to more than 10,000 acres of land in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He has also worked with the LACAWAC Sanctuary Foundation.

He also served on the Department of Environmental Protection’s Solid Waste, Recycling Fund and Climate Change advisory committees, and the Recycling Markets Development Center

Allan earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences/Biology from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre in 1976. He was vice president and general manager of Allan Industries from 1975 to 1991.

Allan and his wife, Patricia, live in Camp Hill and have two adult daughters.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is charged with maintaining and preserving the 117 state parks; managing the 2.1 million acres of state forest land; providing information on the state's ecological and geologic resources; and establishing community conservation partnerships with grants and technical assistance to benefit rivers, trails, greenways, local parks and recreation, regional heritage parks, open space and natural areas.