Statement of Governor Sonny Perdue Regarding The Retirement of Environmental Protection Division Director Harold Reheis

Atlanta - The following is a statement from Governor Sonny Perdue regarding the retirement of Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Director Harold Reheis:

"I want to sincerely thank Harold Reheis for nearly 32 years of committed service to the people of Georgia. The Department of Natural Resources and our state will definitely miss his dedication and commitment.

He will long be remembered for his leadership of Georgia's Environmental Protection Division and his efforts to promote clean air, clean water, healthier lives and productive lands. Along with the citizens of Georgia and the employees of the Department of Natural Resources, I wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.

I would also like to recognize his contributions to ongoing tri-state water negotiations between Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Thanks in part to his expertise, progress continues to be made on this significant regional issue. I am appreciative of his willingness to serve Georgia after his retirement as a consultant on these important water negotiations."

Director Reheis announced his retirement to Governor Perdue and Georgia's Board of Natural Resource Board Members yesterday in an internal memorandum. He is scheduled to retire on July 15, 2003.

Reheis currently serves as the Director of the Environmental Protection Division (EPD), Georgia Department of Natural Resources. He was appointed to this position in 1991. He is responsible for managing all state environmental programs covering air and water quality, safe drinking water, water resource allocation, solid and hazardous waste, erosion and sedimentation control, radiation control, mine reclamation, underground storage tanks, groundwater protection, and the State Geologic Survey. He supervises a staff of more than 750 employees and administers an annual budget of $80 million.

Reheis also serves as one of the alternates for Governor Perdue in Tri-State Water Negotiations between Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

He received a Master's of Environmental Engineering degree from the University of Florida, and a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is also a Registered Professional Engineer in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.