Myra Reece, left, the interim director of the new Department of Environmental Services, watches the unveiling of the agency sign on Monday, July 1, 2024. (Abraham Kenmore/SC Daily Gazette)
COLUMBIA — Gov. Henry McMaster chose the interim director of the state’s environmental agency to continue leading it permanently.
Myra Reece previously oversaw the environmental arm of the Department of Health and Environmental Control until July, when legislators split the department into two separate agencies.
She has been interim director of the 1,000-employee Department of Environmental Services since then. Her role to lead permanently must still be confirmed by the Senate.
“I’ve had the incredible privilege of working alongside talented teams of environmental experts for more than 30 years, and I’m honored to be considered to continue to lead the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services,” Reece said in a news release.
Reece spent nine years as director of environmental affairs for DHEC.
Before that, she was chief of the department’s air quality bureau and a regional office division director.
McMaster selected her to chair a working group considering how to protect the state’s water as demand from new developers increases.
As interim director, Reece’s salary is $179,925.
“Her expertise, professionalism, and commitment have earned my respect, as well as that of her peers and staff,” McMaster said in a statement. “I am confident she will continue to effectively execute our state’s environmental missions and ensure our natural resources are protected.”
Along with splitting DHEC, the 2022 law put both new agencies in the governor’s Cabinet. Instead of answering to a board of commissioners appointed by the governor, which oversaw DHEC, Reece will answer directly to the governor.
Reece’s appointment comes soon after McMaster announced Edward Simmer, interim director for the Department of Public Health and former director of DHEC, would continue leading the state’s health agency.
Originally from Edgefield, Reece received her bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and her master’s from the University of South Carolina.
She also graduated programs in public and environmental health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Emory University.