HARRISBURG -- Leaving him with only one Cabinet spot left to fill, Gov. Tom Corbett announced Richard J. Allan as his pick Wednesday to head the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Mr. Allan, 57, has spent his career working in scrap recycling and energy issues. His family operates Allan Industries, a metal recycling facility, in Wilkes-Barre, and he has run his own energy consulting firm since 2005.

The Cumberland County resident also is a regional executive director for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. He earned a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences and biology from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre.

The state conservation agency has gained attention for its oversight of the growing number of Marcellus Shale gas wells being drilled on state forestland. Cuts in DCNR funding in recent budgets have shrunk the department's resources for drilling oversight, state park operations and forest management.

"Richard Allan is a proven leader and commands a wealth of knowledge and experience in environmental and energy issues," said Mr. Corbett in a news release. "I am confident that his abilities and background will be a tremendous benefit to DCNR, especially during this critical time in the agency's history."

Former DCNR Secretary John Quigley noted that the state parks system was honored as the best-managed in the nation in 2009. Preserving that level of service, and continuing to oversee gas drilling on state land, "is going to be a challenge in the face of budget cuts," Mr. Quigley said.

Jeff Schmidt, president of the state's chapter of the Sierra Club, also voiced concerns about maintaining proper drilling oversight.

"A significant expansion of gas drilling on forestland is the biggest single threat of forestland at this time," Mr. Schmidt said.

Mr. Allan has shown adeptness for policy issues during his time at the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, said Paul King, the group's president. Mr. King said the secretary-to-be was involved in their climate change task force, as well as in promoting the state's Growing Greener program. That program, which has funded projects for waterway restoration and open-space preservation, was funded in part from tipping fees at landfills. Mr. King noted that those tipping fees were paid by some of Mr. Allan's clients.

Mr. Allan is the nephew of Pat Solano, former Luzerne County Republican Party chairman and a power broker in the state's northeastern GOP politics. Mr. Allan's wife, Patricia, was recently named policy director for the Department of Environmental Protection.

Mr. Allan contributed $2,150 to Mr. Corbett during the last campaign cycle, according to the Department of State's campaign finance database. He also was a member of Mr. Corbett's transition team for energy and environmental issues.

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