For Release 01-25-02

Iowans Lose a Gem
Pete Hamlin, Air Bureau Chief, Retires

Pete Hamlin, the DNR's air quality bureau chief and longtime leader of many environmental programs is retiring today after a 30-year career capped with extraordinary achievements in environmental protection. As a person, and as a professional, he will be greatly missed.

Just twelve people worked in air quality when Hamlin took charge in 1990, as a revised Clean Air Act triggered the Title V Operating Permit Program, the Acid Rain Program, emission fees and requirements for hazardous air pollutants. Under his guidance, the air program expanded to nearly 70 staff to meet challenges in managing a dramatic increase in the numbers of construction permits while decreasing permit turnaround time and eradicating a permit backlog. Today, Iowans benefit from one of the quickest permit issuance times in the nation.

Perhaps his greatest professional challenge was a 37-state battle over the drifting of smog forming gasses across state boundaries. In 1997, Hamlin played a crucial role in successfully repelling an effort by eastern states to force extensive and costly pollution controls on Iowa businesses and statewide increased gasoline costs. That effort required numerous trips to Washington DC, much time away from home and family, and close work with other central states to scientifically demonstrate that Iowa emissions played an insignificant role in eastern smog problems. His leadership saved Iowans millions of dollars. Neighboring states of Missouri and Wisconsin were pulled into the extra control requirements, and Hamlin, known for his sense of humor, was given a tongue-in-cheek certificate for "border negotiation award" from several national peers. He was instrumental in forming a regional organization of central states (CENSARA) to deal with future multi-state pollution issues and to develop regional emission modeling technologies in Iowa.

Hamlin began his career in state government in 1972, working as an environmental coordinator under Governor Robert Ray. He successfully implemented a junked car clean-up program, ridding the landscape of over 100,000 cars from rivers, lakes, woods and towns. He joined the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in 1975 and led the land quality division during the transition from city dumps to sanitary landfills. "The biggest challenge was dealing with protest meetings concerning landfill siting," said Hamlin, recalling some of the hostilities. He then implemented the emergency response program to deal with chemical spills and other hazardous conditions while supervising the department's regional field offices as well.

When the DEQ was reorganized into the Department of Water, Air and Waste Management, Hamlin supervised the compliance division including the field offices, attorneys and a central office assistance branch. In 1986, the DNR was formed and Hamlin led a division that included air, solid waste, underground storage tanks and the Superfund program. His biggest challenge was implementing the underground storage tank program under the landmark Groundwater Protection Act.

Hamlin was born in Boston and grew up in Cincinnati, obtaining a history degree from the University of Cincinnati, then completing a master's degree in government from George Washington University. After schooling, it was off to war, where Lieutenant Hamlin was platoon leader for a company of U.S. Rangers during a tour of duty in Vietnam. Returning home, he continued his graduate work in civil engineering and political science at Washington State University.

Hamlin has three boys, one currently in college and two recent graduates. His wife, Judy, works for the Southeast Polk School District.

The air quality staff, DNR colleagues and many representatives from business and industry will miss him. And certainly the People of Iowa, whose lives, water, land and air are safer, healthier and more enjoyable from his dedication, hard work and successes offer their heartfelt appreciation. Best wishes Pete!