DNR Watch - Research Report No. 7, cont.

Summary of a Survey of Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources Employees

When PEER contacted the Wisconsin DNR employees, this is how they described themselves and the purpose of their survey:

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) is a national nonprofit alliance of state and federal resource professionals working to promote environmental ethics and government accountability.  PEER is surveying all Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employees on issues concerning the state of environmental affairs at the agency.  These questions were developed by your colleagues.  Please take a few moments to fill out this survey and mail it back.  As with all contact with PEER, survey responses will be strictly confidential.  PEER will tabulate and publish the survey results and make them available to you.
Responding to the survey were 1,537 DNR employees.  The following topics were part of the survey.
 
RESOURCES

1.  The DNR has sufficient resources to adequately perform its environmental mission.

4% strongly agree      23% agree        8% no opinion 
46% disagree        19% strongly disagree


2.  DNR efficiently uses the resources available to it.

9% strongly agree        43% agree        11% no opinion 
28% disagree        10% strongly disagree


3.  Wisconsin's environment is better protected now by DNR than it was five years ago.

8% strongly agree        26% agree        17% no opinion 
33% disagree        15% strongly disagree 
DECISION-MAKING

4.  DNR administration does not allow the needs of individuals and businesses seeking permits to take precedence over serving the general public and the resource.

6% strongly agree        31% agree        27% no opinion 
27% disagree        9% strongly disagree


5.  In my experience, scientific evaluations are influenced by political considerations at DNR.

13% strongly agree        35% agree        22% no opinion 
23% disagree        7% strongly disagree


6.  The regulated community has undue influence on DNR decision-making.

10% strongly agree        32% agree        27% no opinion 
26% disagree        5% strongly disagree
STRUCTURE

7.  The DNR Secretary should continue to be appointed by the Governor.

1% strongly agree        3% agree        4% no opinion 
21% disagree        70% strongly disagree


8.  The DNR Secretary should be appointed by the Natural Resources Board.

51% strongly agree        33% agree        8% no opinion 
6% disagree        3% strongly disagree


9.  The Public Intervener's Office should be re-established.

41% strongly agree        28% agree        24% no opinion 
4% disagree        3% strongly disagree
ENFORCEMENT

10.  DNR administration is committed to enforcement of environmental laws.

15% strongly agree        54% agree        16% no opinion 
12% disagree        3% strongly disagree


11.  I think that DNR law enforcement tends to focus disproportionately on small violators, rather than large
  violators.

6% strongly agree        15% agree        34% no opinion 
34% disagree        11% strongly disagree


12.  I have been directed by a superior to overlook environmental violations.

3% strongly agree   6% agree   22% no opinion   28% disagree   42% strongly disagree
LEADERSHIP

13.  I trust DNR's top administrators to stand up against political pressure in protecting the environment.

8% strongly agree        26% agree        12% no opinion 
34% disagree        20% strongly disagree


14.  George Meyer has done a good job as DNR Secretary.

12% strongly agree        38% agree        18% no opinion 
23% disagree        9% strongly disagree


15.  At DNR, administrators are selected on who they know rather than what they know.

15% strongly agree        30% agree        32% no opinion 
19% disagree        4% strongly disagree
MORALE

16.  Employee morale at DNR is good.

1% strongly agree        17% agree        7% no opinion 
43% disagree        32% strongly disagree


17.  I know of a situation in which a DNR superior has retaliated against a staffer for doing his or her job "too well" on a controversial project.

6% strongly agree        12% agree        35% no opinion 
27% disagree        20% strongly disagree


18.  I fear job-related retaliation for openly advocating enforcement of environmental regulations.

4% strongly agree        11% agree        25% no opinion 
34% disagree        25% strongly disagree
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