Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources
Encyclopedia
The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources was created by Law 23 of June 20, 1972, during the governorship of Luis A. Ferré
. In 1973, as a gesture of bipartisanship, Ferré's successor, Gov. Rafael Hernández Colón
appointed his predecessor's Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board
chairman, Cruz Matos, as the first Secretary of the new department. Another former EQB Chairman, Pedro A. Gelabert
, has also served as department Secretary. The current Secretary is Daniel Galán Kercadó. Justo A. Méndez Rodriguez
also served as its secretary.
Among the government structures under the Department's umbrella is the Solid Wastes Authority, the Natural Resources Administration, the Commissioner of Navigation and the Natural Resources Rangers Corps.
Luis A. Ferré
Don Luis Alberto Ferré Aguayo was a Puerto Rican engineer, industrialist, politician, philanthropist, and a patron of the arts. He was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico from 1969 to 1973, and the founding father of the New Progressive Party which advocates for Puerto Rico...
. In 1973, as a gesture of bipartisanship, Ferré's successor, Gov. Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
appointed his predecessor's Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board
Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board
The Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board was founded by Governor Luis A. Ferré in 1970, a year before the creation of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.The EQB is the principal environmental protection regulator in Puerto Rico...
chairman, Cruz Matos, as the first Secretary of the new department. Another former EQB Chairman, Pedro A. Gelabert
Pedro A. Gelabert
Pedro A. Gelabert, a 1956 graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, served as Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources from 1993 to 1996 during the governorship of Pedro Rosselló and as Chairman of the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board from...
, has also served as department Secretary. The current Secretary is Daniel Galán Kercadó. Justo A. Méndez Rodriguez
Justo A. Méndez Rodriguez
Ing. Justo A. Méndez Rodriguez is a former Senator in the Puerto Rico Legislature.-Education and career:He was born in Lares, Puerto Rico. He later studied Engineering at the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in Mayaguez, there he joined the Beta Chapter of Phi Sigma Alpha Fraternity. He...
also served as its secretary.
Among the government structures under the Department's umbrella is the Solid Wastes Authority, the Natural Resources Administration, the Commissioner of Navigation and the Natural Resources Rangers Corps.