{"id":1421,"date":"2015-03-24T14:18:34","date_gmt":"2015-03-24T18:18:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/?p=1421"},"modified":"2015-03-24T14:22:59","modified_gmt":"2015-03-24T18:22:59","slug":"emde-greetings-from-mde-secretary-ben-grumbles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/mde\/2015\/03\/24\/emde-greetings-from-mde-secretary-ben-grumbles\/","title":{"rendered":"eMDE – Greetings from MDE Secretary Ben Grumbles"},"content":{"rendered":"

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THE LATEST FROM THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT<\/h2>\n

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FEATURED ARTICLE<\/h2>\n

GREETINGS FROM MDE SECRETARY BEN GRUMBLES<\/h3>\n

\"S.Grumblesphoto\"<\/a>Allow me to introduce myself (and, yes, Grumbles really is my last name). Serving as Maryland’s eighth Secretary of the Environment, nominated by Governor Larry Hogan in January and confirmed by the Maryland Senate in March, means there’s a lot of excitement and gratitude in the Grumbles household these days. I am deeply honored to serve the Governor and the citizens of Maryland, and I am committed to ensuring our environmental progress continues and thrives in new and collaborative ways.<\/p>\n

Most recently, I was President of the U.S. Water Alliance, a national environmental non-profit educating the public on the value of water and the need for innovative and sustainable solutions. We have been convening public and private sector thought leaders and other strange bedfellows to shape “One Water,” integrated and holistic policies and practices.<\/p>\n

Some of you may also know me from one of my previous roles: heading up for six years the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Water Program, which included oversight of the Chesapeake Bay and implementation of Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act programs across the nation. Prior to that, I got to work closely with the Maryland Congressional delegation for more than 15 years, serving as counsel and senior staff member on the Transportation and Infrastructure and Science Committees in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2009 and 2010 I worked in Arizona, first as environmental advisor to the Governor and then as Director of Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality, where much of my focus was on energy, climate, air pollution, waste management and the nexus among water, food, energy and transportation.<\/p>\n

My priorities at MDE include: providing the best customer service possible, to citizens, businesses, communities and ecosystems; embracing innovations in technology, regulation and finance; and fostering a culture of collaboration. By working together and employing a variety of tools and strategies, including regulation and enforcement, we can accelerate the pace of environmental progress while maintaining our economic competitiveness. That’s the sweet spot that makes Grumbles happy.<\/p>\n

If you have suggestions, gripes, and\/or generic grumbles, feel free to email me at
\nmde.secretary@maryland.gov<\/a>. I look forward to working with you and the dedicated employees of MDE towards a cleaner, healthier, better Maryland.<\/p>\n

\"Ben<\/a><\/p>\n

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ABOUT BEN GRUMBLES<\/h2>\n

March 13, 2015:<\/strong> Sworn in as Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment\"Ben<\/a>
\n2011-2015:<\/strong> President of U.S. Water Alliance
\n2009-2010:<\/strong> Director of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
\n2009:<\/strong> Environmental advisor to the Governor of Arizona
\n2004-2009:<\/strong> EPA Assistant Administrator for Water<\/p>\n

Other:<\/strong><\/p>\n