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Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Logo of the DCNR
Agency overview
Formed	July 1, 1995
Jurisdiction	Government of Pennsylvania
Headquarters	Rachel Carson State Office Building 400 Market Street Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 40°15′45″N 76°52′47″W / 40.26250°N 76.87972°W / 40.26250; -76.87972
Agency executive	Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources
Website	[1] www.dcnr.pa.gov

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), established on July 1, 1995, is the agency in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania responsible for maintaining and preserving the state's 121 state parks and 20 state forests; providing information on the state's natural resources; and working with communities to benefit local recreation and natural areas.^[1] The agency has its headquarters in the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg.^[2]

The department was formed when then-governor Tom Ridge split the Department of Environmental Resources (DER) into the DCNR and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

History

Current Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources

• 
  Cindy Dunn (Appointed January 2015)

Past Secretaries of Conservation and Natural Resources

• Ellen Ferretti


• John Quigley (Appointed April 2009)


• Michael D. DiBerardinis (Appointed January 2003)


• John C. Oliver (Appointed November 1995)

Education

The DCNR is host to many different environmental education programs throughout the summer months. These range from topics such as "Leave No Trace" hiking/camping policy to the different wildlife and plant species of many of the state parks.

Law enforcement

DCNR Rangers act much like a national park ranger does. They routinely check on cabins and campsites, offer insightful answers to visitors questions, and help to maintain calmness throughout the parks. They have full arrest powers while in park lands and carry sidearms. However, they do not have jurisdiction over Pennsylvania State Game Lands, which are patrolled by Wildlife Conservation Officers employed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. DCNR rangers enforce game laws as well as fishing and boating laws in state parks. However, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is completely independent of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Both agencies are independent of DCNR, but work in cooperation with each other.

Organizational structure

The DCNR comprises the following subunits:^[3][4][5]

• Deputy Secretary for Parks and Forestry
  
  
  
  • Bureau of State Parks
  
  
  • Bureau of Forestry
  
  
  
  


• Deputy Secretary for Conservation and Technical Services
  
  
  
  • • Nathan Flood
  
  
  • Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey
  
  
  • Bureau of Recreation and Conservation
  
  
  • Bureau of Facility Design and Construction
  
  
  • Wild Resource Conservation Program
  
  
  
  


• Deputy Secretary for Administration
  
  
  
  • • Brian Grove
  
  
  • Bureau of Human Resources
  
  
  • Bureau of Administrative Services
  
  
  • Bureau of Information Technology
  
  
  
  


• Office of Policy and Planning


• Office of Education, Communications and Partnerships


• Office of Conservation Science
  
  • Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program
  
  


• Chief Counsel
  
  • Richard Morrison
  
  

See also

• List of Pennsylvania state agencies


• Natural Lands Trust


• List of law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania

References

External links

• Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources