Minnesota Agencies

The Office of Environmental Assistance is an agency in the executive branch headed by a director appointed by the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency, with the advice and consent of the senate, to serve in the unclassified service.

OEA's mission is to protect Minnesota's environment through waste prevention and resource conservation. OEA is a nonregulatory agency that works to improve the environment through partnerships, technology transfer, technical assistance, education, research, and matching grants.

All programs at the Minnesota Office of Waste Management, solid and hazardous waste programs at the Metropolitan Council, and staff and programs were transferred to the MPCA under Executive Reorganization Order 169 in September 1993." (News release, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 7 June 1994).

1994 Laws of Minn., Chapter 639 renamed the Office of Waste Management the Office of Environmental Assistance and provided for the appointment of the director; transferred certain personnel, powers, and duties to the Office of Environmental Assistance; transferred solid and hazardous waste management personnel, powers, and duties of the Metropolitan Council to the Office of Environmental Assistance.

Director: Rodney Massey, 1994- ; Acting Director: Art Dunn, January, 1997- ; Director: Sherry Enzler, 2002 (exact time period is unknown). Art Dunn appears to have been the Director in 2004-05 when the final Financial Audit was being completed.