Here & Now

Meyer Smith Talks About DNR Audit Bureau Report

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM OVER ENFORCEMENT OF WASTEWATER VIOLATIONS IN THE STATE IN THE WAKE OF THE DNR AUDIT. AMBER MEYER-SMITH OF CLEAN WISCONSIN JOINS US NOW WITH HER TAKE ON THE SITUATION. AND THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.

AMBER MEYER-SMITH:

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO WE’VE HEARD FROM THE SECRETARY WITH HER REACTION TO THE AUDIT OF HER AGENCY AND THE DNR BOARD. WHAT’S YOUR REACTION TO THIS AUDIT?

AMBER MEYER-SMITH:

WELL, THE AUDIT BUREAU IS A VERY RESPECTED, NONPARTISAN AGENCY, SO A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT A LOT OF STOCK IN THESE NUMBERS AND SOME OF THE RESULTS. SENATOR COWLES, A REPUBLICAN FROM GREEN BAY ACTUALLY REQUESTED THE AUDIT. THE NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD DID A GREAT JOB OF FOLLOWING UP AND FINDING OUT WHERE THE GAPS ARE AT THE DNR. SO REALLY THERE’S A LOT OF ATTENTION BEING PAID TO THE RED FLAGS THAT WERE RAISED HERE. AND WE SHARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU’VE HEARD ALREADY. 94% OF THE TIME WHEN DNR ISN’T FOLLOWING ITS OWN POLICIES IN TERMS OF ENFORCING AGAINST VIOLATORS. A BACKLOG OF PERMITS. THOSE HAVE REAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

A LOT OF THE CONCERNS ALSO SEEM TO REVOLVE AROUND THE STAFF SHORTAGES AT THE DNR, SPECIFICALLY KIND OF IN THE WATER AREA. AND, YOU KNOW, WE’VE BEEN TRACKING THOSE SHORTAGES OVER THE YEARS. BUT THIS SEEMS TO PUT THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT IN THE BRIGHT LIGHT. IN YOUR MIND, WHAT KINDS OF INSPECTIONS AND ENFORCEMENTS SHOULD BE TAKING PLACE?

AMBER MEYER-SMITH:

YOU REALLY HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. FOR TOO LONG THE DNR HAS BEEN A CONVENIENT TARGET BY A SMALL HANDFUL OF LEGISLATORS AND THEY’VE SORT OF WITHOUT CAUSE CUT STAFF, 16 SCIENTISTS IN THE LAST BUDGET, 11 EDUCATORS. AND THIS AUDIT REALLY IS RAISING A CURTAIN ON THE RESULTS OF THAT. AND IT IS HARMING PEOPLE’S WATER BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT ENFORCEMENT AND PERMITS ARE ALL ABOUT. IT’S TO KEEP OUR WATER CLEAN. IT’S TO PROTECT WHAT WE VALUE, CLEAN DRINKING WATER, FISHING, SWIMMING, CANOEING, KAYAKING IN CLEAN WATER.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

DO YOU THINK IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT, AS LOOKED AT IN THE AUDIT, THAT IT IS ENDANGERING WISCONSIN’S WATER?

AMBER MEYER-SMITH:

I DEFINITELY DO. AND I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW IS FACING A LOT OF VERY SERIOUS WATER CHALLENGES. A DEAD ZONE IN GREEN BAY WAS IDENTIFIED ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE NOTHING CAN LIVE. WE HAVE BEACH CLOSINGS ALL OVER THE STATE EVERY SUMMER BECAUSE THEY ARE CHOKED WITH ALGAE, WHICH IS A SMELLY NUISANCE OR VERY HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND TOXIC. JUST THIS YEAR ALONE, THE DNR ADDED 225 WATERS TO THE IMPAIRED WATERWAY LIST, BRINGING THE TOTAL UP TO 1300. THOSE ARE ALL WATERS THAT AREN’T MEETING THE STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN SET. SO THERE ARE CHALLENGES THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS. AND A LACK OF ENFORCEMENT AND FOLLOW-THROUGH AND CONSISTENCY AND A BACKLOG OF PERMITS IS ONLY MAKING THOSE SITUATIONS WORSE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AND THE AUDIT ALSO POINTS TO THE FACT THAT THE NUMBER OF CAFOs HAS GONE UP 80% SINCE 2005 MAKING ALL OF THIS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

AMBER MEYER-SMITH:

THAT’S RIGHT. KEWAUNEE COUNTY IS SUFFERING THE BRUNT OF THAT PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. THEY’VE GOT VERY SHALLOW BEDROCK, WHICH MAKES THEIR WELLS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO POLLUTION FROM RUNOFF. A LOT OF THE CAFO GROWTH HAS BEEN IN THAT NORTHEASTERN REGION. PEOPLE CAN’T DRINK THE WATER OUT OF THEIR WELLS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY’RE CONTAMINATED WITH NITRATES AND BACTERIA.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

DO YOU HAVE SOME OPTIMISM IN THE SENSE THAT THE DNR BOARD DID TAKE THIS EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY, LOOKED VERY CLOSELY AT THE AUDIT AND IS NOW INTERESTED IN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN HELP THE DNR STAFF UP?

AMBER MEYER-SMITH:

I AM REALLY ENCOURAGED BY THE LEVEL OF REACTION THAT DECISION-MAKERS HAVE GIVEN THIS AUDIT. THE BOARD, WE ALREADY HEAR SENATOR COWLES TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR BUDGET SOLUTIONS. APPARENTLY EVEN THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID HE’S OPEN-MINDED ABOUT HIRING SOME STAFF FOR DNR IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS AUDIT. AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY THE DIRECTION THAT WISCONSIN NEEDS TO GO, IS TO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND FIX IT IN A VERY ROBUST WAY SO THAT WE CAN GET TO CLEAN WATER SOONER.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ALL RIGHT. AMBER MEYER-SMITH, THANKS VERY MUCH.

AMBER MEYER-SMITH:

THANK YOU.