Thursday, June 23, 2011

Do Not Be Lulled By GOP Delays On DNR 'Reform,' Changes To Mining Review Procedures

The GOP has set aside, for the time being, consideration of an iron ore industry-led effort in Wisconsin to cut back the review period by the Department of Natural Resources for mining permits and to also cut back traditional grassroots participation role in mine permit decision-making.

Coincidentally, or not, the Walker administration has yet to follow through on a plan - - leaked memo about it, here - -  to reorganize the DNR by Executive Order, including the fast-tracking of permitting in general to facilitate Walker's 'open-for-business' PR.

The corporatists whom Walker has installed atop the DNR, like the conservative advocacy groups that financed the GOP's takeover in Wisconsin, will make sure these changes at the agency and the way it does its regulatory job are rolled out and codified in the interest of Big Business before the end of the year.

The mining permit changes could be included or essentially guaranteed in the details of the agency reshaping.

Put nothing past Walker, as he's the one who bragged to the fake David Koch about the quiet planning that preceded his assault on collective bargaining:

"Came home from the Super Bowl...had all of my cabinet over...it was kind of the last hurrah before we dropped the bomb."
Walker has defended the concept as has the state's largest newspaper, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

There will be another round of retirements from DNR and other agencies before June 30. Once this happens they will justify privitizing DNR so they can hire people quickly to fill the jobs and issue back logged permits. And there will be layoffs in areas that are not related to permit issuing. Because changes to the DNR will be done by executive order, there will no doubt be at least one lawsuit. Also, look for the DNR board to be dissolved along with restructuring.