No bill has been drafted yet but a few legislators are proposing to split the Dep't of Natural Resources into two agencies, one for environmental regulations and the other for Fish, Game and Outdoor Recreation.  Rep. Scott Gunderson, chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Fish, Game and Outdoor Recreation, is listening to public testimony.

The Assembly Subcommittee will be holding two hearings:
 

• Thursday May 20, 1999 at 3:00 pm at UW-Stevens Point, Laird Rm, 1015 Reserve St, Stevens Point
• Thursday May 27, 1999 at 1:00 pm in Ives Grove Office Complex, 14200 Washington Ave, Sturtevant (near Racine).

• Conservation and environmental groups agree that valuable habitat management and conservation warden activities are under funded.  They support sources of revenue in addition to hunting and fishing license fees and are working with the Conservation Congress and others to achieve these goals.  Creating a new agency does not address the license fee issue.

• Estimates from 1991 were that splitting the DNR would cost a minimum of $4 million and lead to redundant staff efforts.

• DNR’s problems need to be solved, but not by splitting the agency.  Let’s deal with the under funding of programs and let the DNR complete the current reorganization.

• Restoring the Office of the Public Intervenor will help hunters and anglers protect their access to lakes and watchdog permits that destroy habitat and pollute our waters so we can’t eat our catch.

• Restoring the independence of the DNR Secretary will remove the political influences on DNR decisions that should be made based on sound ecological science and long-term ecosystem sustainability.

• DNR staff teams of wildlife and fish managers working with hydrologists and other scientists result in integrated resource management decisions.  Dividing the staff into separate agencies makes working together more difficult and will increase the costs and frustrations of permit applicants.

• Splitting the Michigan DNR in two in 1996 has been very expensive for Michigan taxpayers and with fewer enforcement staff, has led to serious deregulation of wetlands and natural areas.