PPL Corporation announced today that Bob Barkanic, deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, has been named to head the company’s Environmental Management Department.

Barkanic, DEP deputy secretary since 1999, will become PPL’s manager of Environmental Management on Sept. 9.

"Bob’s deep understanding of the environmental challenges in the energy industry will help our company continue to be an environmental leader," said James Seif, PPL vice president of Corporate Services. "His combination of expertise and extensive management experience will provide our environmental department with steady and effective leadership."

In his new role, Barkanic will provide a vision for the corporation’s environmental activities, communicate with regulatory agencies and other environmental stakeholders, and provide expert environmental support to the company’s business lines.

Born in Hazleton, Pa., Barkanic worked in a number of leadership positions within the Department of Environmental Protection.

A professional engineer, he earned his bachelor of science degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1980 and his masters in engineering science from Penn State in 1997.

He began his career with Bechtel Power Corp., working at several nuclear power plants around the country, including Three Mile Island near Harrisburg. Barkanic joined the Department of Environmental Protection in 1993 as a senior nuclear engineer and special assistant to the deputy secretary in the Office of Air, Recycling and Radiation Protection. He also served as the executive director of the Governor’s 21st Century Environmental Commission, a 40-member blue-ribbon panel tasked with setting environmental priorities for the commonwealth.

Barkanic was named deputy secretary for the Office of Pollution Prevention and Compliance Assistance in May 1999 and added the title of deputy secretary for Air, Recycling and Radiation Protection in January 2002.

He will replace Lynn Ratzell, who has served as manager of Environmental Management since 1991. Ratzell is retiring Oct. 1.