HARRISBURG - As part of an ongoing effort to evaluate and strengthen Pennsylvania's environmental issues and laws, Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) has announced that Carbon County's James Clauser was recently reappointed by Speaker of the House Sam Smith to serve another three-year term on the state Department of Environmental Protection's Citizens Advisory Council.

The council's mission, as defined by statute, is to perform non-partisan, independent oversight of the operations, management and policy of the Department of Environmental Protection, participate in the development of environmental regulation and provide advice concerning environmental matters to the department, the governor, the General Assembly and the Commonwealth's federal representatives."Jim has tremendous knowledge and experience addressing environmental issues, not only in Carbon County, but across the Commonwealth as well," said Heffley. "I'm confident he will continue to offer his valuable expertise as the state's Department of Environmental Protection continues moving forward with its critical work."Clauser is no stranger to the advisory council, as he completed a three-year term this month.Beyond his duties on the council, Clauser has spent the past year-and-a-half working as an environmental vegetation specialist for PPL Electric Utilities, where he works in various PPL regions.Prior to his current position with PPL, Clauser worked for the Carbon County Conservation District for 21 years as the district manager.During his tenure at the Carbon County Conservation District, he received the Northeastern Pennsylvania Partnership Award for work performed on the First Hollow Stream Restoration Project in Nesquehoning.He also received the "Friends of the Lehigh River" award from the Wildlands Conservancy in Emmaus for work that he contributed in the Lausanne Tunnel Discharge Wetland Treatment Project.