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Commissioner Bob Martineau, State Rep. Ron Lollar, TDEC Regional Director Cindy Patton, and Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill at TDEC's meeting with local officials from the Memphis region on Jan. 27 at Bartlett City Hall Annex.
Commissioner Bob Martineau, State Rep. Ron Lollar, TDEC Regional Director Cindy Patton, and Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill at TDEC's meeting with local officials from the Memphis region on Jan. 27 at Bartlett City Hall Annex.

Commissioner Bob Martineau (center) with TDEC Deputy Commissioners Shari Meghreblian and Brock Hill on Jan. 23 at the Upper Cumberland Regional Health Office, the state's first LEED Platinum certified building.
Commissioner Bob Martineau (center) with TDEC Deputy Commissioners Shari Meghreblian and Brock Hill on Jan. 23 at the Upper Cumberland Regional Health Office, the state's first LEED Platinum certified building.

Deputy Governor Claude Ramsey, Commissioner Martineau, General Services Commissioner Steve Cates and TDEC Deputy Commissioner Meghreblian on January 11 at TDEC's Nashville Environmental Field Office announcing the Clean TN Energy Grant Program and a series of energy efficiency projects in state government. Learn more.
Deputy Governor Claude Ramsey, Commissioner Martineau, General Services Commissioner Steve Cates and TDEC Deputy Commissioner  Meghreblian on January 11 at TDEC’s Nashville Environmental Field Office announcing the Clean TN Energy Grant Program and a series of energy efficiency projects in state government. Learn more.

Commissioner Martineau, EPA Region 4 Regional Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming and TDEC Deputy Commissioner Shari Meghreblian at the TDEC Central Office on Jan. 30 for a roundtable discussion with TDEC staff.
Commissioner Martineau, EPA Region 4 Regional Administrator Gwen Keyes Fleming and TDEC Deputy Commissioner Shari Meghreblian at the TDEC Central Office on Jan. 30 for a roundtable discussion with TDEC staff.

 

February 3, 2012

 

Dear Friends,

 

I want to thank all of the people I encountered while traveling around the state during my first year as TDEC Commissioner. Visiting state parks, TDEC field offices and meeting with local officials and department stakeholders throughout Tennessee has been extremely helpful to me and reflects Governor Haslam’s emphasis on outstanding customer service, outreach and working closely with local communities.

 

The past year was eventful one for TDEC. We’ve received national recognition for outstanding initiatives like the State Employee Recycling Program and great public places like Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. We are the only state park system in the nation with every golf course certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. TDEC played a critical role for Tennessee in the landmark federal Clean Air Act settlement that obligates TVA to invest in additional pollution controls and to fund $26 million in environmental mitigation projects in the state. New Clean TN Energy Grants are now available to local governments and NGOs as a result of this settlement. We also completed much needed infrastructure improvements at Montgomery Bell and Henry Horton, and Gov. Haslam came to Winchester to help us open a new Visitor Center at Tims Ford State Park.

 

On Nov. 16 & 17, Tennessee State Parks hosted a tour for members of the Tennessee General Assembly who serve on the Senate Energy & Environment and House Conservation & Environment Committees. We were honored to have representatives, senators and legislative staff make time in the their schedule to join us for site visits to Cumberland Mountain, Fall Creek Falls, Cumberland Trail, Booker T. Washington and Harrison Bay State Parks. This was time well spent with members. It was a great opportunity to provide legislators a first-hand look into our park operations where they could see and learn why Tennessee’s state parks are such attractive destinations for visitors. These insights and experiences will help committee members as they consider a variety of park-related issues in the session underway.

 

While 2011 was a good year for TDEC, I am looking forward to what lies ahead for us. Tennessee State Parks and The Tennessee Conservationist magazine are both marking their 75th Anniversary in 2012. We will use these significant milestones to honor our past, highlight the present and look forward to a bright future. There will be activities and events at every park location throughout the year to celebrate the past 75 years. This anniversary season began with thousands participating in First Hikes at our 53 state parks on Jan. 1 or 2, 2012. Be looking for opportunities to celebrate our 75th Anniversary at a state park near you throughout 2012.

 

On behalf of Brock, Shari, and Tom, I also want to share my appreciation with our TDEC employees for their commitment to public service and hard work throughout the year. The results of their efforts make Tennessee a cleaner, safer, and more beautiful place. We will be counting on their dedication and good work as we continually look for ways to improve our customer service and find efficiencies in department operations. I am confident our approach echoes Governor Haslam’s closing statement from his recent State of the State Address: “Working together, we are going to achieve better for Tennessee.”

 

Sincerely,

 

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Robert Martineau, Commissioner