Co-Chair, Joint Committee on Finance 

P.O. Box 7882 

Madison, WI 53707-7882 

Dear Representative Gard: 

On behalf of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the nation's largest member-supported conservation education and advocacy organization, and the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation (WWF), NWF's state affiliate organization, we strongly urge you to oppose the splitting of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). 

The Wisconsin DNR is one of the nation's top natural resource  agencies.  The agency was the first to ban the sale of DDT, to pass laws to reduce acid rain, and has made tremendous progress toward the Clean Water Act goals and achieving swimmable, fishable waters.  Splitting the DNR would jeopardize the agency's leadership, create more overhead for taxpayers, and will result in less protection and less service for the people and wildlife of Wisconsin. 
A proposal to split the DNR is a serious matter that, if considered at all, would require full public input.  Considering a proposal of this magnitude as part of the budget process is not the place to do this.  Wisconsin citizens deserve a more open and inclusive process. 

A high priority issue for both the NWF and WWF is the reduction and eventual elimination of mercury to clean up our rivers and lakes from this contaminant and to make fish safe to eat for everyone.  We are hopeful that Wisconsin will become the first state to require mercury reductions.  The Wisconsin DNR is a national leader on mercury reduction because the DNR regulates air pollution and manages fisheries.  A split of the agency will compromise its leadership on this issue. 

Five years ago, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources split into two agencies.  No new funding was allocated and the separation increased overhead costs by $4 million dollars.  The results have been catastrophic for Michigan's natural resources.  Numerous Michigan conservation groups have been highly critical of the Michigan DNR split and of the resulting new agency, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, for failing to do its job.   The negative results of the Michigan DNR split should serve as an example and other states must not follow. 

Sincerely,
 
 

Mark Van Putten                           James Weishan 

NWF President & CEO                  WWF President