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Back to Environmental Deregulation, or Hassett's Merrill Speech |
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E-Mail from Scott Hassett to DNR Staff Regarding His Merrill Speech -----Original Message----- From: Hassett, P. Scott
Being part of an agency of the size, complexity and power of the Department of Natural Resources is something a formal education, reading and outside experience can only partially prepare you for. Your feedback is important to our working together effectively. And based on that feedback, I would like to address head-on an issue that has come up in the last couple days. The text of a speech I delivered in Merrill a short time ago was circulated among many staff. It carried an important message of regulatory reform, an issue that has to be a priority in DNR to assure the long-term effectiveness and viability of our mission. In trying to connect with that business audience -- repeating to them the complaints they have been making so they know we are listening -- I used some phrases and generalizations that did not fairly characterize the work of the majority of DNR employees. Some of you were offended. You told me that parts of the speech pushed your buttons. Others felt I should have shared the speech sooner. I apologize. I really appreciate that feedback. I truly believe the overwhelming majority of you are dedicated public servants and I spent much time on and off text saying that. My speech failed to stress the constraints of staffing, money and outdated and cumbersome statutes and administrative rules under which you labor. Future versions of that speech will not make that mistake. I can promise that my actions as secretary will confirm my respect for you. I do need to emphasize to you that the basic message of regulatory reform is critical to our future success and viability as an agency. We face a sort of perfect storm in the form of a sluggish economy, a legislature worried about the state deficit, and claims by some members of the business community that environmental regulation is the cause of a bad business environment and is costing our citizens jobs. Headlines claiming that Wisconsin has lost 84,000 of its manufacturing jobs are cause for universal and deep concern. In fact, the economic slowdown is national. It's international. And the clean, abundant resources of Wisconsin are a source of economic and competitive strength. They underpin our thriving and growing tourism industry. The forest resources we protect and promote support the state's second largest industry. And on checking, we've found Wisconsin's regulations, permit backlogs and permitting times parallel those of our sister agencies in the upper Midwest. We are being severely damaged by anecdotal horror stories -- many unsubstantiated -- which never draw attention to all we ARE getting done. Perception has become fact in the minds of many lawmakers. There is a concerted effort to reform regulations in Wisconsin to help business. In order to survive we must be responsive, be a part of that reform and guide where it is headed. What are we reforming and what does this all mean? First of all, reform does not mean sacrificing environmental standards or quality. Reforming does mean an honest, introspective look at ourselves to see where we can improve and can meet business needs without compromising our mission. We need to work together to improve in every way we can. Here is what I have put on the table: 1. We are going to deal with the problem of damning anecdotes. Any criticism usually has a thread of truth, so we will offer to take information on specific problems, by specific businesses. Internally we will investigate and report on all of them. We will not allow vague accusations and horror stories to set our agenda. Where there's a real problem, we will fix it. 2. We will do a much better job of providing the facts. We are setting up a consolidated data gathering system that will tell us day by day and week by week how many permit applications are in the system and how long they are taking. This will give us the information we need to zero in on problems and to apply resources where needed. I've asked Mark McDermid, Cooperative Environmental Assistance Bureau Director, to lead the effort on creating this data system. 3. We all need to work on efficient paper trails. Instead of businesses coming to us for informal counsel and waiting months and sometimes years to formally present permit applications, we will insist complete applications come in at the time they begin talking to us. This will assure a true measure on how long permitting is actually taking. 4. We will look for ways to consolidate permits, to cut out unnecessary and redundant steps. And we will absolutely concentrate on getting rid of any backlogs so we can start with a clear slate and work on reforms from a stronger position. Intense attention to backlogs is in process. Like any organization, we have to work to maintain good relations with the public, even when we're tired, frustrated or overworked. A few uncooperative staff or isolated sour incidents can kidnap our reputation. We are under a microscope. We need to help each other. We have many initiatives well on their way. We have created an Office of Energy as part of a new Memorandum of Agreement with the Public Service Commission. That office will work with the PSC on permitting power lines and generating plants, and we are working with lawmakers on legislation and guidance that will enhance our efforts. We have restructured Air Management to deal with the permitting backlog. We have many success stories to tell in brownfields, in forestry, in water permitting, in our automated fishing and hunting license system, and in using information technology and the Internet to make information and permitting easier for our customers. We aren't done. Regulatory reform is our top priority in the next few months. It will have to happen while we continue to juggle critical issues like CWD and workforce reduction, and in the face of severe cuts to our services programs that will make this initiative all the more difficult. Much is being asked of you. And we have to continue to produce. Again, I thank you for the feedback and I apologize to those of you who expressed concerns. I believe it is as important for me to discuss regulatory reform with you as with the business community. Accordingly, I will be on the road and out talking with you at meetings around the state. I look forward to seeing you then and hearing your ideas. But if you have ideas or concerns, don't wait. Drop me a note or talk to your DLT member. Scott |