FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday,  April  25,  2007

Contact: Ron Smolinski, Public Information Officer
Phone: (702) 455-1618
Cell: (702) 280-5592
E-mail: smolinski@co.clark.nv.us 

New Director Named for Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management

          Lewis Wallenmeyer, acting director for the department of Air Quality and Environmental Management, had been named to the position permanently, pending ratification by the County Commission.

“This is a very important position responsible for the county’s stewardship over our valley’s air quality and our environment,” said County Manager Virginia Valentine. “Lew’s extensive environmental and administrative experience make him well suited to build on our past successes in air quality, our Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, our management of public lands and implementation of the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act.”

Wallenmeyer has been acting director since Christine Robinson, who led the department since 2000, accepted a promotion to assistant county manager in October 2006. Robinson has since left the county to work as executive director of the Animal Foundation.

 Wallenmeyer has been with the Air Quality department since 1997, serving as an enforcement officer and an enforcement supervisor until his promotion in February 2002 to assistant planning manager overseeing the Clark County Desert Conservation Program, followed by a promotion to assistant director in November 2004. Wallenmeyer has extensive experience in the environmental and wildlife areas, having served as a wildlife biologist and as a biology and science teacher in Oregon prior to his move to Southern Nevada. Wallenmeyer has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Eastern Oregon University.

           The Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management is a multifaceted organization encompassing not only air quality regulations, monitoring and planning, but also water quality planning, coordination with management of 5.2 million acres of federal lands, planning and funding for Clark County trail systems, and implementation of the Endangered Species Act through the Desert Conservation Program. It has about 170 employees and an annual budget of about $32.7 million.

Wallenmeyer’s appointment will be considered by the County Commission on May 15.

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