NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney

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

NMED News:

BOULDER, Colo. — New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Cabinet Secretary James Kenney was elected Tuesday to the national position of Secretary-Treasurer of the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) during the organization’s fall meeting in Boulder, Colo.

The ECOS Officers for the 2023-2024 term are as follows:

• ECOS President, Elizabeth Biser, Secretary, North Carolina Dept. of Environmental Quality
• ECOS Vice President, Jon Niermann, Chairman, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• ECOS Secretary-Treasurer, James Kenney, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Environment Dept.
• ECOS Past President, Myra Reece, Director of Environmental Affairs, South Carolina Dept. of Health and Environmental Control

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 addressing climate change to PFAS clean-up, New Mexico is a recognized leader in protecting public health and the environment,” Kenney said. “I am honored to serve as an officer for the Environmental Council of the States and influence national policy.” 

“ECOS is delighted to welcome Secretary Kenney as our newest officer,” ECOS Executive Director Ben Grumbles said. “The association will benefit greatly from his leadership talents and his depth and breadth of expertise in areas ranging from oil and gas methane reduction and PFAS to promoting environmental compliance.”

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 special projects including research efforts.

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