NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney

NMED News:

• • • • • New Mexico represented in executive leadership of national environmental organization

NEWPORT, R.I.—Last week, New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Cabinet Secretary James Kenney was elected to the national position of Vice President of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) during the fall meeting in Newport, R.I.

The ECOS Officers for the 2024-2025 term are as follows:

• ECOS President, Jon Niermann, Chairman, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
• ECOS Vice President, James Kenney, Secretary, New Mexico Environment Department; and
• ECOS Secretary-Treasurer, Brian Rockensuess, Commissioner, Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

ECOS is the national nonprofit, nonpartisan association of state and territorial environmental agency leaders. The purpose of ECOS is to improve the capability of state environmental agencies and their leaders to protect and improve human health and the environment of the United States of America. ECOS provides leadership on environmental issues of national importance and plays a critical role in facilitating a quality relationship among and between federal and state agencies.

ECOS implements its mission by:

• Articulating, advocating, preserving and championing the role of the states in environmental management;
• Providing for the exchange of ideas, views and experiences among states and with others;
• Fostering cooperation and coordination in environmental management; and
• Articulating state positions to Congress, federal agencies and the public on environmental issues.

“From strengthening PFAS regulations and enforcement to building a resilient workforce, New Mexico is a recognized leader in protecting public health and the environment,” Secretary Kenney said. “I am honored to serve as an officer for the Environmental Council of the States and contribute to the national policy dialogue on issues facing our state and other states.”

“ECOS is delighted to benefit from the energy and leadership of Secretary Kenney as Vice President,” ECOS Executive Director Ben Grumbles said. “He brings a host of innovative ideas from the State of New Mexico and significant expertise in the areas of air, water, land and materials, compliance, cross-media and oil and gas.”

As an ECOS Officer, Kenney will assist with the overall leadership and day-to-day decision making, coordination of committees and conferences, secretarial relations, development of policy proposals for consideration by the membership, holding regular meetings with EPA leadership and co-chairing e-enterprise for the environment (https://e-enterprisefortheenvironment.net/).

Kenney also serves as the ECOS co-chair of the Oil and Gas Caucus and formerly served as the Secretary-Treasurer of ECOS and chair of the ECOS Cross Media Committee.