Secretary's talk of 'new DNR' irks some
10:53 PM 10/19/03
Ron Seely Environment reporter

The Department of Natural Resources has long been the agency that people love to hate. <

Now, DNR secretary Scott Hassett is trying to change that image. But in the process of promising a kinder, gentler DNR, Hassett has angered people inside and outside one of the state's most powerful regulatory agencies. <

Hassett, who was appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle, announced his intentions to create what he called "the new DNR," at a speech to the Merrill Rotary Club on October 7. At the time, the talk got little public attention, but it sent ripples of concern through the agency as well as through the environmental community, which charged that Hassett appears more concerned about the DNR's image than about regulating polluters. <

Some employees were angered because Hassett said part of his plan to reform the agency was to set up a telephone line that could be used by people "to complain about a DNR employee's behavior or attitude." <

Hassett said he intended to set up the complaint line because of stories about "discourteous, abrupt, condescending or even contemptuous treatment" of the public by what he described as a limited number of agency employees. <

Stung by criticism from his own staffers about the speech, Hassett sent a memorandum to employees last week apologizing for "some phrases and generalizations that did not fairly characterize the work of the majority of DNR employees." <

In that same memo, however, and in an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal about the speech, Hassett said he remains committed to the basic message of the talk - the necessity of regulatory reform. <

"Reform does not mean sacrificing environmental standards or quality," Hassett wrote to his staff. "Reforming does mean an honest, introspective look at ourselves to see where we can improve and can meet business needs without compromising our mission." <

The speech and ensuing backlash come at a time when the DNR is under pressure from Gov. Doyle, a Democrat, and the Republican-controlled state Legislature to streamline permitting procedures. In addition, budget cuts have necessitated layoffs for the first time in years at the DNR. <

Elizabeth Kluesner, executive assistant to Hassett, said the speech was not well received by some within the agency. <

"I think the speech could have been stronger on employees," Kluesner said. <

But, like Hassett, Kluesner said it is important for the DNR to make the permitting process more efficient and less onerous for business. <

"What we need to deal with are these process issues," Kluesner said. "We are always going to be the regulators. That is not going to go away." <

But Caryl Terrell, director of Wisconsin's John Muir Sierra Club chapter, said she fears Hassett's speech does signal a change in attitude toward the tough job of regulating polluters. She said she was "furious" upon reading the speech and sent letters of complaint to Hassett and Doyle. <

"I'm afraid the governor and the DNR are overreacting to the external and totally political pressure they are under to change the DNR climate," Terrell said. <

Terrell said she was especially offended by some of the statements Hassett made about his employees. <

"This is outrageous," Terrell said. "He's inviting people to beat up on his own enforcement staff .