September 26, 2008
Maricopa County officials made a key appointment Monday, September 22, 2008 with the hiring of Lawrence Odle as Maricopa County’s new Air Quality Department Director. Odle comes to Maricopa County from Washington County, Oregon with more than 35 years experience in air quality, pollution control, land use and transportation.
“He has an extensive professional background in air quality and is uniquely qualified to begin tackling the challenges here in Maricopa County,” said Andrew Kunasek, Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. “The Board will rely heavily on his experience and ability to bring a number of key parties together to move us forward to cleaner air,” noted Kunasek.
Maricopa County has been mandated by the federal government to reduce particulate matter (dust) pollution and recently joined cities in tightening regulations in an effort to meet new standards. Ozone pollution has also remained a challenge in the Valley. The Air Quality Department has recorded 26 days so far in 2008 where at least one of its monitors exceeded the federal health standard for either ozone or particulate matter pollutants.
“It’s safe to say I have my work cut out for me,” said Odle. “But there is much each of us can do to improve air quality, and even more when we work together. I look forward to those opportunities.”
In addition to his most recent position as Deputy Director of Washington County Land Use and Transportation Department, Odle’s extensive resume includes executive director positions for a number of Air Quality organizations including Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority, North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District, Butte County Air Quality and Monterey Bay Unified APCD. He has also served as interim county Chief Administrative Officer in Butte County, California. Odle is a two-term past president of the California Air Pollution Control Officer’s Association, past member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials and a former California Air Resources Board Advisory Committee member.
In addition to being a certified mediator, Odle holds a Juris Doctorate from Cal Northern School of Law and a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Biology from the University of California, Riverside.
Odle begins his employment with the Air Quality Department on Wednesday, October 22, 2008.
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