Take Politics Out of Environment,
State Workers Say
Survey of DNR Employees Calls
for
Reduced Role of Governor
|
Washington, D.C. - Politics color
scientific evaluations and permit decisions to the detriment of the state's
environment according to the results of a survey of all employees of Wisconsin's
Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The survey, conducted by Public
Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), also found overwhelming
support for removing the Governor's power to appoint the DNR Secretary
and for reestablishing the Public Intervener's Office which was abolished
by Governor Tommy Thompson in 1996.
This past December, PEER mailed out surveys to all of the approximately
3,000 DNR employees consisting of questions written by employees.
That same week, DNR Secretary George Meyer sent out an e-mail encouraging
all DNR employees to participate and more than half returned the PEER questionnaires.
According to survey results, a strong plurality of employees registered
concerns about political influence within the agency:
-
Nearly half of respondents feel that scientific evaluations are influenced
by political considerations with less than a third in disagreement;
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More than half do not trust DNR administrators "to stand up against political
pressure in protecting the environment"; and
-
More than two in five think that business "has undue influence on DNR decision-
making."
Overall, nearly half of DNR employees believe Wisconsin's environment is
not better protected now than it was five years ago while little more than
a third disagree.
As one employee wrote:
"Big business now runs the Wisconsin DNR. Our governor has done tremendous
damage to Wisconsin's reputation as an environmental leader."
The PEER survey also asked employees to write essays identifying the
"biggest problem facing the DNR." By far, the most consistent answer
— constituting more than one-third of all employee essays — was political
interference and the role of the Governor. As one employee wrote:
"Big business now runs the Wisconsin DNR. Our governor has done tremendous
damage to Wisconsin's reputation as an environmental leader."
On agency structure, employee sentiment was even more definitive:
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In excess of nine out of ten think that the DNR Secretary should not be
appointed by the Governor with more than eight in ten favoring the return
of this appointment power to the Natural Resources Board; and
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More than two-thirds of respondents want the Public Intervener's Office
restored while less than one in ten disagree.
"DNR employees themselves are doubtful about their effectiveness in preserving
Wisconsin's natural heritage," stated PEER national Field Director Eric
Wingerter. "Many employees are angry and frustrated from what they
perceive to be political interests obstructing sound science and environmental
stewardship."
The survey asked employees to assess conditions within the agency:
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Nearly two-thirds believe that DNR lacks "sufficient resources to
adequately perform its environmental mission";
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Nearly three-fourths say that employee morale is poor; and
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More than one in six fear retaliation or know of instances of reprisal
against employees who advocate stronger environmental protection.
A majority of survey respondents agreed that Secretary Meyer was doing
a "good job" but similar percentages raised doubts about the performances
of other top agency administrators. "Employees believe that Secretary
Meyer is holding up under tremendous pressure," said Wingerter, citing
another employee essay which read:
"The biggest problem is to ‘free George Meyer' by letting the
Natural Resources Board appoint the Secretary and restoring the Public
Intervener's Office. This will give George Meyer all his ‘teeth'
back."
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A complete report of survey results in available
upon request from PEER.
PEER is a national alliance
of state and federal employees working in pollution control, land management
and wildlife protection agencies. PEER works with public agency professionals
to promote environmental ethics, sound resource management and government
accountability. PEER's job is to protect employees who protect our
environment.
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