Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources#Organization

{{Infobox government agency

| agency_name = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

| logo = Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Logo.svg

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| logo_caption = Logo of the DCNR

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| formed = July 1, 1995

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| jurisdiction = Government of Pennsylvania

| headquarters = Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| coordinates = {{coord|40|15|45|N|76|52|47|W|type:landmark_region:US-PA|display=inline}}

| employees =

| chief1_name = Cindy Dunn

| chief1_position = Secretary of Conservation and Natural Resources

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| website = [http://www.dcnr.pa.gov Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]

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The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), established in 1995, is the agency in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania responsible for maintaining and preserving the state's 124 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/index.aspx |title=Pa. Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources |access-date=2006-12-09 |archive-date=2006-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211171956/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/index.aspx |url-status=dead }} The agency has its headquarters in the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg."[http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/contactdcnr.aspx Contact DCNR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501023119/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/contactdcnr.aspx |date=2011-05-01 }}." Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Retrieved on October 18, 2010. "Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Rachel Carson State Office Building PO Box 8767 400 Market Street Harrisburg, PA 17105-8767."

History

The department was formed on July 1, 1995 when then-governor Tom Ridge split the Department of Environmental Resources (DER) into the DCNR and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Budget, staff

Organization and leadership

=Bureaus=

The DCNR comprises the following subunits:[http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/bureaus.aspx DCNR Bureaus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304014613/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/bureaus.aspx |date=2009-03-04 }}. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved on 2009-05-31.[http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/orgchart.aspx DCNR Organization Chart] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420082154/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/orgchart.aspx |date=2008-04-20 }}. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved on 2009-05-31.[http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/fsexecutive.aspx DCNR Executive Staff] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501134640/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/info/ataglance/fsexecutive.aspx |date=2009-05-01 }}. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Recreation. Retrieved on 2009-05-31.

Deputy Secretary for Parks and Forestry
Bureau of State Parks
Bureau of Forestry
Deputy Secretary for Conservation and Technical Services
Nathan Flood{{Cite web |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/discoverdcnr/ataglance/executivestaff/index.htm |title=Nathan Flood |access-date=2022-12-30 |archive-date=2017-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104142403/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/discoverdcnr/ataglance/executivestaff/index.htm |url-status=dead }}
Bureau of Geological Survey
Bureau of Recreation and Conservation
Bureau of Facility Design and Construction
Wild Resource Conservation Program
Deputy Secretary for Administration
Brian Grove{{Cite web |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/discoverdcnr/ataglance/executivestaff/index.htm |title=Brian Grove |access-date=2022-12-30 |archive-date=2017-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104142403/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/discoverdcnr/ataglance/executivestaff/index.htm |url-status=dead }}
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{{Cite web |url=http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/discoverdcnr/ataglance/executivestaff/index.htm |title=Richard Morrison |access-date=2022-12-30 |archive-date=2017-01-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104142403/http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/discoverdcnr/ataglance/executivestaff/index.htm |url-status=dead }}

=Secretaries=

Ellen Ferretti (appointed September 2013){{Cite web|url=https://www.timesleader.com/archive/386732/news-local-news-151299675-ferretti-out-as-dcnr-secretary|title=Ferretti out as DCNR Secretary|date=16 September 2015|access-date=24 June 2019|archive-date=24 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624182315/https://www.timesleader.com/archive/386732/news-local-news-151299675-ferretti-out-as-dcnr-secretary|url-status=live}}
Richard Allan (appointed 2011)
John Quigley (appointed April 2009)
Michael D. DiBerardinis (appointed January 2003)
John C. Oliver (appointed November 1995)
Cindy Adams Dunn (appointed January 2015)

Law enforcement

File:DCNR ranger vehicle.jpg]]

Pennsylvania DCNR rangers act much like National Park Rangers do. 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 side arms. However, they do not have primary jurisdiction over Pennsylvania State Game Lands, which are patrolled by Wildlife Conservation Officers employed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, but do have the authority to enforce all Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Game Commission laws and regulations while on Pennsylvania State Game Lands. French Creek State Park and State Game Lands #43 are examples, as DCNR rangers regularly enforce PGC regulations giving tickets to offenders at PGC's public shooting range. 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.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

DCNR ranger responsibilities have three primary elements:{{Cite web |title=Pennsylvania Park Ranger Training and Degree Requirements |url=https://www.parkrangeredu.org/pennsylvania/ |website=Park Ranger EDU |date=25 March 2014 |access-date=4 August 2022 |archive-date=4 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804171846/https://www.parkrangeredu.org/pennsylvania/ |url-status=live }}

Public contact - Assisting visitors to make the outdoor experience safe, educational and enjoyable.
First responder - DCNR "forest" rangers are trained and certified Department of Health medical first responders capable of providing basic life support in an emergency. Some DCNR rangers have continued their education and training to be certified as emergency medical technicians.
Law enforcement - Rangers act as law enforcement officers the same way as typical police officers would, but also enforce game, fishing, and boating laws.

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.