The program will also feature panel discussions on the latest issues facing water companies in Hearing Room 1, Keystone Building beginning at 9:00 a.m.
John T. Hines currently serves as a Government Relations Advisor to the Shell Oil Company. In this capacity, coordinates various activities related to the Shell Oil Company business in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Prior to joining Shell Oil, Mr. Hines spent over eighteen years with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), capping off his career as the Executive Deputy Secretary for Programs. In this capacity, he oversaw all statewide policy and program development related to all aspects of DEP’s activities.
Mr. Hines served twelve of his 18 years in senior and executive management at DEP. Mr. Hines has served as the Deputy Secretary for Water Management; as Executive Director of the Water Planning Office and as the Acting Director of Watershed Management, and as the DEP’s Policy Director.
Mr. Hines has done so many small things, most of which have gone unrecognized, that have resulted in improvements to water quality statewide. However, most recognize that he has overseen numerous Departmental efforts including the passage of a number of initiatives to protect Pennsylvania’s water resources.
Specifically, he served as a lead negotiator for DEP in the final stage of the passage of the Water Resources Planning Act (Act 220 of 2002). Mr. Hines was also critical to the drafting of Annex 2001, an agreement to protect the Great Lakes that was signed by the eight Great Lakes States and the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Over the course of his career at DEP, Mr. Hines was instrumental in leading DEP’s efforts, now 26-years running, to comply with the Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy.
With 46-percent of the Chesapeake Bay watershed in Pennsylvania, Mr. Hines played a pivotal role in bringing stakeholders together to forge a Pennsylvania strategy to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan for cleaning up the bay.
In particular, he helped devise a point and non-point source strategy for Pennsylvania’s wastewater plants and farmers, including a Nutrient Credit Trading Program which has helped stakeholders meet mandatory reductions in nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment in a cost-effective way.
Whether he was protecting our source water from gas drilling wastewater and other sources of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) or ensuring that our drinking waters meet the Safe Drinking Water Act standards, John Hines has exemplified dedication to promoting the availability of safe drinking water in the Commonwealth.
In 2001, the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) recognized Mr. Hines with the Pyramid Award. The Pyramid Award recognizes nationally outstanding young professionals in the fi eld of water resources.
In 1999, both the Interstate Council on Water Policy (ICWP) and Great Lakes Commission recognized Mr. Hines for his efforts in establishing the “Partnership for the 21st Century” agreement among river basin commissions nationally and his work on developing the ICWP Interstate Water Resources Standing Committee. He has also earned two “Secretary Pins” for his outstanding work on DEP initiatives.
Mr. Hines has served as Pennsylvania’s State Coordinator for the Delaware Estuary Program, as Executive Director of the Greene County Solid Waste Authority and as a Socioeconomic Planner with L. Robert Kimball and Associates in Ebensburg, Cambria County.
A Presidential Scholar, Mr. Hines holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Sciences and a Masters Degree in Geography and Regional Planning.
A native of Greene County, Mr. Hines currently resides in Palmyra, Lebanon County, with his wife, Amy, and his children, Alexis and Matthew. He has volunteered for numerous church and community organizations.
Mr. Hines currently serves as the Leadership Chair of Gravel Hill United Methodist Church. He has also served for over sixteen years on the Campbelltown Palmyra Youth Soccer Club and is a State Certified “D” level soccer coach.
The James McGirr Kelly Award for Excellence is the highest honor bestowed by the National Association of Water Companies – Pennsylvania Chapter. The award is presented each year to the resident of Pennsylvania who most exemplified dedication to promoting the availability of safe drinking water in the Commonwealth.
The Annual Award for Excellence was named for the late James McGirr Kelly, Senior United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Judge Kelly was a former member of the Public Utility Commission and former vice president of American Water Works Service Company, Inc. He was the first recipient of the award in 1983.
Past award winners include: 2011 John Hanger, DEP Secretary, 2010 former PUC Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli, 2009 Rep. Bud George, 2008 Rick Rogers, U.S. EPA Region 3, 2007 Paul K. Marchetti, 2005 Rep. Carole Rubley, 2004 Terrance J. Fitzpatrick, former Chair PUC, 2003 Fredrick A. Marrocco, DEP, 2002 David E. Hess, DEP Secretary, 2001 John M. Quain, former Chair PUC, 2000 Sen. Raphael J. Musto, 1999 Walter A. Lyon, 1998 Michael D. Klein, 1997 David A. Long, PhD, 1996 Gov. Tom Ridge, 1995 Sen. David J. Brightbill, 1994 Wendell F. Holland, 1993 William R. Shane, 1992 William R. Lloyd, 1991 Edith D. Stevens, 1990 Dr. Ruth Patrick, 1989 Gov. Robert P. Casey, 1988 Sen. D. Michael Fisher, 1987 George I. Bloom, 1986 Clifford L. Jones, DER Secretary, 1985 Dr. Maurice K. Goddard, DER Secretary, and in 1984 Gov. Dick Thornburgh.
A copy of the meeting agenda is available online.
