Executive Director

Dennis McLerran

Dennis McLerran is an attorney and former chair of the Land Use and Environmental Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association. He directed the City of Seattle’s environmental and permitting agency, served as the first full-time City Attorney for the City of Port Townsend and has practiced environmental and land use law in the public and private sectors. He joined the air quality agency in June 1994.

Contact information

Toll free: (800) 552-3565 x4004
Direct line: (206) 689-4004
Fax: (206) 343-7522
E-mail: dennism@pscleanair.org
Postal: 1904 3rd Avenue, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98101

 

Agency recognizes executive director’s 10 years of dedication to cleaner air

In July 2005, Dennis McLerran celebrated his 10-year anniversary as executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Here are excerpts from a recent interview, where the focus was more on the agency’s accomplishments than his successes. “I can’t separate my accomplishments from the agency’s accomplishments, because I benefit from what everyone else does,” he said.

“What I am most proud about is that the Clean Air Agency has a high level of credibility as the air quality experts for the region. We are able to develop partnerships with other governments, businesses and environmental agencies because they believe the agency delivers significant public health and air quality benefits to our community. They believe we will work with them in a positive way.”

Unlike some environmental agencies, the agency has been willing to give up regulations and programs that are no longer necessary — such as oxygenated fuel in winter. “When we are successful, we move on and focus on work that still needs to be done. I think it’s made a difference in the agency’s credibility.”

McLerran is also pleased about the agency’s financial status. “The agency and the Board of Directors have made prudent financial moves that have kept us financially sound and stable. In addition, we continue to get grants from federal, state and local agencies because we deliver highly effective results and focus on the most important environmental work.”

One thing McLerran says he brought to the agency was his years of experience in local government and his good relationships with key decision makers and their staffs. “I broadened the agency’s work with stakeholders. As we developed our air quality maintenance plans, clean air strategies, and legislative proposals, we brought our customers — businesses, our governmental partners and environmental partners like the American Lung Association of Washington — to the table together. We have been very successful at arriving at consensus-based solutions.”

McLerran gives credit for his successes and the successes of the agency to the staff, the Board, the Advisory Council and the people of the Northwest. “The Board trusts us, feels invested in the work we do and has given us necessary resources. The Advisory Council has given us good focus-group type of input and kept us on track. We have high-quality, dedicated staff who really care about the agency’s mission and the environment. People in the Pacific Northwest really care about the environment and support the work we do. All that makes my job easy.”