Conclusion

The DNR has been corrupted and deflected from its original purpose by the influence of industry donations to Gov. Thompson's campaigns.  The DNR activities under Gov. Thompson have been severely constrained for several years, preventing the agency from performing its basic function of protecting public health, wildlife and natural resources.
 
This report provides a classic example of the importance of a strong federal presence through programs like Superfund, and the need for a "legal hammer" at the federal level to force polluters to the bargaining table.
 
Time after time, DNR staff have initiated  efforts to promote more aggressive clean-up or better public outreach, but they've been held back and forced by the Governor to work within committee processes and agreements with polluters which conflict with the DNR's function and basic duties.  At the same time, Thompson has eliminated advocates for cleanup, like Thomas Dawson, of the Wisconsin Public Intervenor Office.
 
Gov. Thompson is not serving the public interest on the Fox River.
 

Recommendations
 

• Restore the political independence of the DNR by making the DNR Secretary a position which answers to a seven member Natural Resources Board consisting of citizens appointed by the Governor and Legislature, serving staggered 6-year terms.
• Restore the Wisconsin Public Intervenor Office to watchdog actions of government agencies, and intervene, if  necessary, to protect public rights in natural resources.
• Reform campaign financing to provide only public funding and eliminate donations from private special interests.
• Strengthen enforcement and funding of Wisconsin's sediment cleanup programs, following these principles:

• The polluters must provide upfront funds to characterize contaminated sites and study cleanup options.  These funds and studies must be under the direct control of the DNR staff, not the polluters.
• The polluters must pay the full cost of studies and cleanup, not taxpayers.
• Site studies and cleanup must be timely, not delayed over several years.
• Remedies must protect public and wildlife health.
• Remedies must include permanent solutions, such as detoxification treatments, not simply dig and dump landfilling, creating potential problems elsewhere.
• Conflicts of interest between the polluters and cleanup consultants must be strictly prohibited.
 
• Maintain and strengthen federal programs, including Superfund and NRDA, to ensure rapid cleanup of contaminated sites in cases where the state or local governments have failed to act.

DNR Report Sections:
 
  Twelve Years of Delay - A Fox River Clean-up Timeline
  Deals, Consultants, Paper Industry Allies, and Tourism
  The Health Risks of PCBs and Landfilling Contaminated Sludge
  Legislative Connections, Paper Company Economics, and Industry Control of the Process
  The Fed's Step In
  The Paper Money Trail - Political Campaign Contributions to the Governor
  DNR Report Study Methods
  References