Chesapeake Bay Program Names New Director

On Dec. 12, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of Dana Aunkst as the new Director of EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program.

Aunkst has environmental and regulatory experience working 33 years in private industry and local and state government.

During his tenure at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) which began in 2002, Aunkst served in executive level positions as deputy secretary and acting secretary. As the deputy secretary for field operations, he directed the operations of six regional offices in implementing the full array of state and federal environmental regulations.

As executive deputy secretary for programs, Aunkst directed the activities of more than 2,000 professional and technical staff engaged in all aspects of environmental protection.

While serving as deputy secretary for water, he oversaw programs for surface and groundwater quality, soil and water conservation, public water supply withdrawals, sewage facilities planning, point source sewage and industrial discharges, flood protection and stream improvements.

In this position, Aunkst led the change to resuscitate Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay restoration effort by authoring the 2016 Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Reboot Strategy.

For more information, visit online at http://www.epa.gov/restoration-chesapeake-bay.