(a) There is hereby created and established the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to carry out the purposes of this chapter and to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter and all functions transferred to the department by this chapter. The department shall maintain its principal office in the City of Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama.
(b) The department shall be under the supervision and control of an officer who shall be designated as the director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The director shall be an individual knowledgeable and experienced in environmental matters. The director shall employ such officers, agents and employees as he deems necessary to properly administer and enforce the programs and activities of the department and to fully implement the requirements of this chapter and the intent of the Legislature. All powers, duties and functions transferred to the department by this chapter, except those specifically granted to the Environmental Management Commission, shall be performed by the director; provided that the director may delegate the performance of such of his powers, duties and functions, to employees of the department, wherever it appears desirable and practicable in fulfilling the policies and purposes of this chapter. The director shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Environmental Management Commission. The director shall be exempt from Chapter 26 of Title 36. The pay of the director shall be set by the Environmental Management Commission and shall be consistent with that of cabinet level appointees.
(c) There shall be a deputy director of the department who shall be a Merit System employee. The deputy director shall assist the director and shall have charge and general supervision of the department in the absence or disability of the director. In the case of a vacancy in the office of director, the deputy director shall become the acting director of the department and shall have the full powers of the office of director until the Environmental Management Commission appoints a successor to the director.
(d) The department shall be divided into such divisions as the director deems appropriate. Each division shall be supervised by a division chief who shall be selected by the director and shall be a Merit System employee.
(e) The functions of the Air Pollution Control Commission and of the Division of Air Pollution Control in the State Health Department as set forth in Sections 22-28-1 through 22-28-23 are transferred to the department on October 1, 1982.
(f) The functions of the Water Improvement Commission, as set forth in Sections 22-22-1 through 22-22-14 are transferred to the department on October 1, 1982.
(g) The functions of the State Health Department with respect to public water systems, as set forth in Sections 22-23-30 through 22-23-53 are transferred to the department on October 1, 1982.
(h) The functions of the Alabama Water Well Standards Board, as set forth in Sections 22-24-1 through 22-24-12 are transferred to the department on October 1, 1982.
(i) The functions of the State Health Department with respect to solid waste collection and disposal, as set forth in Sections 22-27-1 through 22-27-7, which are specified below, are transferred to the department on October 1, 1982. Specifically, those functions of Section 22-27-3 relating to the location and control of solid waste disposal by sanitary landfill, incineration, or composting; and the burning of solid wastes are transferred to the department. Those provisions of Section 22-27-4 relating to the control of unauthorized dumping are transferred to the department. Those provisions of Section 22-27-5 relating to the issuance of permits to individuals or corporations engaging in the disposal of solid wastes are transferred to the department. Those provisions of Section 22-27-7 relating to the supervision and regulation of solid waste management are transferred to the department. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit or curtail the authority of the State Health Department in the realm of sanitation or disease control and prevention, or in any matters relating to the public health which are not specifically transferred to the department by this chapter on October 1, 1982. Nothing in the chapter should be construed to transfer any function relating to collection of solid waste to the department. Such functions shall remain with the State Health Department or county health department as appropriate.
(j) Any permitting, regulatory and enforcement functions of the Coastal Area Board, as set forth in Sections 9-7-10 through 9-7-22, are transferred to the department on October 1, 1982.
(k) The functions of the State Health Department, with respect to hazardous waste management, as set forth in Sections 22-30-1 through 22-30-24, are transferred to the department on October 1, 1982.
(l) The functions of the Environmental Health Administration Laboratory of the State Health Department are transferred to the department on October 1, 1982.
(m) The functions of the Board of Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Personnel and the functions of the State Health Officer as set forth in Sections 22-25-1 through 22-25-15 are transferred to the department on October 1, 1982.
(n) Beginning October 1, 1982, the department is hereby designated as the State Environmental Control Agency for the purposes of federal environmental law. Specifically, the department is designated as the State Air Pollution Control Agency for the purposes of the Federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §7401 et seq., as amended; as the State Water Pollution Control Agency for the purposes of the Federal Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq., as amended; the state agency responsible for the promulgation and enforcement of drinking water regulations in accordance with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §201 et seq., as amended; the state agency responsible for the promulgation and enforcement of solid and hazardous waste regulations in accordance with the Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. §3251 et seq., as amended, including 42 U.S.C. §6901 et seq., as amended; and is hereby authorized to take all actions necessary and appropriate to secure to this state the benefits of federal environmental laws.
(o) Beginning October 1, 1982, the State Health Department shall provide certain routine bacteriological analyses to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the department shall reimburse the State Health Department for the reasonable costs and expenses incurred in providing such analyses. For an appropriate period of time, the department shall contract with the State Health Department to provide the routine bacteriological analyses necessary to the department in its Public Water Systems Program.
Last modified: May 3, 2021