Shift in philosophy: DNR writing fewer tickets

A friend alerted me to this article on the Wisconsin DNR and their position on CAFOs [Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations]…

“Environmental enforcement activity by the state Department of Natural Resources has dropped dramatically in the past two years, according to data from the agency, with the number of permit violation notices hitting a 12-year low in 2011.DNR officials say the decrease is partly caused by an enforcement staff that’s been hit hard by budget cuts. But they also point to a philosophical shift that emphasizes cooperating with businesses by helping them navigate complex state and federal regulations and steering them into compliance when they violate their permits.

“I don’t apologize for that,” said DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp of her emphasis on customer service and a less-confrontational agency. “When we do our jobs right at the Wisconsin DNR and when we are no longer viewed as somebody to be afraid of and instead as a partner in understanding what the expectations are … we also see environmental enhancement and job creation as a result. (Businesses) know they have somebody they can come to and help them comply.”

But others see a darker side to that approach. Critics, including current employees and recently retired agency officials, say they see tough regulation and enforcement being de-emphasized by politically appointed administrators, and they worry it is happening at the expense of the agency’s traditional and legally mandated duties of oversight and environmental protection.” via Shift in philosophy: DNR writing fewer tickets.

This a little off topic for me, but I still wanted to amplify this information until I launch a new blog focusing primarily on these issues…

This could reflect either a lack of funding or the perceived Republican bias in favor of ‘big business’. What do you think?