COLUMBIA (WACH/AP)—With the pending retirement of Department of Health and Environmental Control Director Earl Hunter, Board members of the agency will spend the majority of Thursday in executive session discussing his replacement.

Since Hunter’s announcement in September that he plans to retire on February 1, 2012, about 250 people have applied to step into the position.  Hunter has served DHEC’s commissioner since August 2001, and with over a decade in the position, he is the agencies longest serving leader.  Hunter has been with DHEC since his 1980 graduation from the University of South Carolina.

DHEC was created by the Legislature in 1973 when they merged the State Board of Health and Pollution Control Authority, and is overseen by a governor appointed board.

(The AP contributed to the story)